The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 357

of Rome, and, for political reasona, rilenr,ed Romane in or for Palestine bad, in accommo- all no.tionalist and ultra-patriotic feeling. de.tion to Jewish prejudices, no repree,mta..- By putting this question, the disputants tion of e.ny peraonage upon them. The thought to force Christ rnto a dilemma, Rome.n denariu.< at this <late had on the where he m11Bt answer directly " Yes" or obverse side the bead of Tiberiua, crowned "No," and where, whichever reply he made, with laarel leaves, e.nd bore the legend, he would eq ue.lly offend one or other of "TI CAESAR DlVI AVG F AVGVSTVS,'' the parties into which the state was divided. and ou the reverse, e. seate,J female fio-ure, If he affirmed the lnwfnlness of the tax, he with the inscription, "PONTIF MAXI:\'!." would lose his popularity with the mass of Ver. 21.--Cmsar'a. They are constrained the people, as one who disowned the sove- to answer that the coin beara the effigy of the reignty of Jehovah, and would give the Boman emperor. Render (lr.,,.&ao.-,, gfre bad<, death-blow to his own claims 118 Messiah- 118 a. due) therefore unto C!Bear the things King. II he gave a negative reply, he would which are ClBSllr'S (rlr. Kaltrapos). Rabbiniem lie deemed an enemy of Rome and a promoter ruled that the right of coine.ge appertained of seditious views, and be liable to be handed to the ruler of a state, and was e. proof of over to the civil power for the punishment de/aero government, which it was unlawfnl of disatfection and treason (see Luke x.x. to resist. The current coin, which they 20). They falsely brought this charge used in their daily transactions, showed that against him before Pilate (Luke xxiii 2). the Jews were no longer independent, but Ver. 18.-Wickedness. The malice and set under and acquiescing in a foreign hypocrisy which prompted the inquiry. domination. Being subject.a of Cresar, it Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites 1 They was their dnty to submit to his demands, were hypocrites because they falsely as- e.nd to pay the taxes which be had a right sumed the guise of conscientious men, who to levy. This was an answer to the insidious had no sinister motive, and desired merely question propounded. Christ docs n;-,t ta.ke 1o hear the deoision of a much-esteemed either side in the controverq; he =kes no Re.bbi. Christ's words proved in a moment question of tile mutual rights of conquered that he saw through them, understood the and conquerors; he utters no aspiration for meaning of the temptation to which they the recovery of iudependence; he uses had subjected him-how they were trying facts 118 they a.re, and points to habi- to involve him in a political difficulty, from tual practice 118 a sufficient solution of the which they deemed no escape was pOl!llible. difficulty. No reply could be wiser or The character which they had flatteringly simpler. Herein he gives a lesson for e.11 given to Jesus (ver. 16) he here fully time. No plea of religion can hold good responds to. against obedience to lawful authority. Ver.19.-The tribute money; .-o vop.urµ.a. "Render to e.ll their dues," says St. p.,u1 .-oii tdivtrou: the coin of the tribute; that is, (Rom. xiii. 7): " tribute to whom tribute is the coin in which the tribute was paid. The due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom r.eply to the question W118 wholly unexpected. fear; honour to whom honour." 1'he things The Pharisaic "disciples" had hoped that that are God's ; .-a .-oii e,oii. The thingl! of Christ would have taken pa.rt against the God are ourselves-<>ur life, powers, faculties, Herodians ; but he gives no decision about means; to use the,e in God's service it! our the matter in dispute, such 118 they desired. duty and our privilege. There need be no He virtually rebukes their dissimulation, conflict between religion and politics, Church and makes their own action supply the and state. Let a citizen do his duty to God, verdict which they demBI1ded. Not seeing and he will Ii nd his oblige.tions to the civil the drift of his request, they brought unto power a.re coincident and harmonious. Let him a penny; a denariua (see on oh. xviii. the state respect the rights of God snJ of 28). This was the a.mount of ~he capitation oonscience, and there will lie no colli.:iion tax, e.nd it was paid in Roman, not Jewish, between itself e.nd the Church, but both will coinage. Just e.t this period the Jews had peaceably co-operate for the good of the no mintage of their own, and were forced to community. He.d the Jews rendered to God use Boman coins, whioh might well be oalled his dues, they would never have been r~ "tribute money." duced to their present ste.te of subjection • Ver. 20.-Image and supersoription. The and debasement; would never have had tu figure and inscription on the dene.rins. pay tribute to a foreign n.e.tion. Jesus takes the coin, and points to it as he Ver. 22.-They marvelled. Well might; spee.ks. It must have home a likenese of the they marvel '.rheir carefully le.id plot, emperor,and,thorefore,as;Edereheimremarks, which had seemed so irresistible, was utlerly must have beeu either a foreign one (Roman) frustrated. The view of the rele.tion.. ot or poBBibly one of the Tetra.rob Philip, Church and state set forth by Christ waa who on some of his coins introduced the novel e.nd incowprehenaible. Hitherto the ime.ge of Tiberius. The coinl et.ruck by the two provinces had been con.sidered identical.  362 THE GOSrEL ACCORDING TO ST,· MA.T'l'HEW. [ou:. xxn. 1-46.