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Matthew 22:15-17. Mean Questions. 28 Sept 2023

Mat 22:15 Then the Pharisees went away
to work out between them how to trap him in what he said.
16 And they sent their disciples to him,
together with some Herodians, to say,
'Master, we know that you are an honest man
and teach the way of God in all honesty,
and that you are not afraid of anyone,
because human rank means nothing to you.
17 Give us your opinion, then.
Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'

Excerpt from THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

The Pharisees did not go themselves. They sent some representatives, disciples of them and some Herodians.
They had been instructed carefully what to say to Jesus.

Notice all that they sum up about Jesus. It appears to me that each word they produced was a lie. Else, they would have shown respect to Jesus. Can you see the Herodians asking: 'Should we pay taxes?' Could it be that some of them were tax-collectors?

Prayer

Jesus, show me where my questions are dishonest or provocative.