Worldly men and formalists have little real sympathy with one another. They dislike one another's principles, and despise one another's ways. But there is one thing which they hoth dislike even more, and that is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. And hence, whenever there is a chance of opposing the Gospel, we shall always see the worldly man and the formalist combine and act together. We must expect no mercy from them : they will show none. We must never reckon on their divisions : they will always patch up an alliance to resist Christ.
Let us observe, for another thing in this passage, the exceeding subtlety of the question propounded to our Lord. His enemies asked him, " Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, the Koman emperor, or not ? Shall we give, or shall we not give ?" Here was a question, which it seemed at first sight impossible to answer without peril. If our Lord had replied " Give," the Pharisees would have accused him before the priests, as one who regarded the Jewish nation as under subjection to Rome. — If our Lord had replied, " Do not give," the Herodians would have accused him before Pilate, as a seditious person who taught rebellion against the Roman government. The trap was indeed well planned. Surely we may see in it the cunning hand of one greater than man. That old serpent the devil was there.
We shall do well to remember, that of all questions which have perplexed Christians, none have ever proved so intricate and puzzling, as the class of questions which the Pharisees and Herodians here propounded.'*
* "Nothing is more likely to ensnare ministers, than bringing them to meddle with controversies about civil rights, and to settle
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What are the dues of Caesar, and what are the dues of God — where the rights of the church end, and where the rights of the state begin — what are lawful civil claims and what are lawful spiritual claims — all these are hard knots and deep problems which Christians have often found it difficult to untie, and almost im- possible to solve. Let us pray to be delivered from them. Never does the cause of Christ surfer so much as when the devil succeeds in bringing churches into collisions and law-suits with the civil power. In such collisions precious time is wasted — energies are misapplied — ministers are drawn off from their proper work — -the souls of people suffer, and a church's victory often proves only one degree better than a defeat. " Give peace in our time, 0 Lord," is a prayer of wide meaning, and one that should often be on a Christian's lips.
Let us observe, in the last place, the marvellous wisdom which our Lord showed in His answer to His enemies.
Their flattering words did not deceive Him. He " knew their hypocrisy." His all-seeing eye detected the " potsherds covered with silver dross" which stood before Him. (Prov. xxvi. 23.) He was not imposed upon, as too many of His people are, by glowing language and fine speeches.
He made the daily practice of His own enemies supply Him with an answer to their cunning questions. He tells them to " bring Him a penny," a common coin which they themselves were in the habit of using. He asks them " whose image and superscription" are stamped upon that
landmarks between the prince and the subjects, which it is fit should be done, while it is not at all fit that they should have the doing of it." — Matthew Henry.