Matthew states clearly that the Pharisees are setting out to trap Jesus. They go together with the Herodian. This is an interesting collection of bedfellows!!!! This is the first time that these two forces have aligned. They are mortal enemies! The Herodians were loyal to Herod and to Caesar, the Pharisees were proud of their Hebrew tradition. But they team up to trap Jesus. When Jesus asks whose image is on the coin, He well knows. He knows that graven images of a human beings are forbidden by the law. A “good” Pharisee should not carry this graven image!
I would like to reflect on the way Jesus answers questions throughout the gospels. There are many examples of Jesus being asked questions. Some are sincere questions and some are very insincere and indeed as in this Gospel today some are trick questions set to entrap Him.
As a general rule, and there are many examples, Jesus is happy to answer sincere questions. Most often when the questions are traps or insincere, Jesus will answer the question with another question. This is the case today. “Whose head is this? Whose name?”
Sometimes people ask a question of us not for information, just to be antagonistic. Jesus was not going to give into a political debate about taxes. He makes his questioners state out of their own mouths that they live in a temporal kingdom and a spiritual one. His advice to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” had stood the test of time for all worldly kingdoms down the ages.
Jesus is often asked questions. He loves sincere questions and He always gives a sincere answer. When you read the gospels study how Jesus answers the provocative questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of Jesus. He loves our questions and is anxious to listen to us.
I would like to reflect on the way Jesus answers questions throughout the gospels. There are many examples of Jesus being asked questions. Some are sincere questions and some are very insincere and indeed as in this Gospel today some are trick questions set to entrap Him.
As a general rule, and there are many examples, Jesus is happy to answer sincere questions. Most often when the questions are traps or insincere, Jesus will answer the question with another question. This is the case today. “Whose head is this? Whose name?”
Sometimes people ask a question of us not for information, just to be antagonistic. Jesus was not going to give into a political debate about taxes. He makes his questioners state out of their own mouths that they live in a temporal kingdom and a spiritual one. His advice to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” had stood the test of time for all worldly kingdoms down the ages.
Jesus is often asked questions. He loves sincere questions and He always gives a sincere answer. When you read the gospels study how Jesus answers the provocative questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of Jesus. He loves our questions and is anxious to listen to us.
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