Matthew 22:22   And why did they marvel? For the same reason that people are still marveling today. The amazing wisdom, captivating words, and powerful doctrine of the Holy Son of God are too much for this world. He cannot be ignored. He is too interesting to the human psyche to be brushed aside. Even those…

Matthew 22:21  The hope of the Jewish leaders was that he would say something about the Roman government. But, it was a simple question with a simple answer. The coinage was provided by the Romans. They supplied public works, government, and the like. No matter if the Jews approved of their ways, the Roman rulers…

Matthew 22:20  Jesus always asks those simple but profound questions. Who’s picture is on it? Who wrote these words on it? And, by implication, who does it belong to? Everyone knew the answer to the first two questions, and would readily realize the answer to the third. Thus, by way of simple illustration, Jesus reminds…

Matthew 22:19   This was the Roman tax being discussed here. Do not get it confused with the temple tax that Jesus paid for himself and Peter from the fish’s mouth. This ‘penny’ was a Roman denarius, not a Jewish shekel or half-shekel. Jesus asks to see this coin so as to give them a very…

Matthew 22:18   Jesus knew what they were trying to do. Being omniscient, he would know their motives. However, given his experience with them, he surely did not have to rely on his omniscience much to see through this plot. He rebuked their attempt to tempt him to hear flattery. Bible Reading: Numbers 22:1-24:25 Scripture Memory:…

Matthew 22:17   They ask what he thinks.Why? What is the purpose of that little question before their main question? Why is it missing from their other ‘trick questions’? The answer is, quite simply, that they were trying to set up the answer. They wanted his answer to be, very clearly, his own opinion on the…

Matthew 22:16   It is not completely clear who the Herodians were exactly. However, it is safe to say that the Jewish leaders were ‘stacking the deck’ by selecting them. Whatever else they may have been, they were most assuredly a politically influential group. Thus, mixed with the disciples of the Pharisees, this a volatile crowd…

Matthew 22:15   The Pharisees fancied that they themselves were the best of all religiously. Being more righteous, then, they thought that surely they could find a weakness in the teachings of Christ. If nothing else, they though that they could trip him up if they planned it skillfully ahead of time. This is likely how…

Matthew 22:14   To many has the gospel come. Great multitudes of the tribes and families and peoples and nations have heard. The sound of the gospel has gone out into the farthest reaches of the globe. And yet, there are many who have not believed. Many have heard the call to Christ and failed to…

Matthew 22:13   Some may take offense at this verse. Jesus here seems to break away from his illustration and interject a divine punishment that no earthly king would have at his disposal. But, one must remember, the kings of the earth would not fail to use this punishment if it was available. The capital punishments…