What do you think ?

"Master, we know that you are true, that you teach the way of God in truth and that you do not bother anyone, because you do not look at the appearance of men. Tell us then, what do you think : Is it permissible to pay the tribute to Caesar, or not ?" Read Matthew 22. 15-22

Is there a question more innocuous and more familiar than "what do you think" ? This is the way, between friends, or at least between good knowledge, to ask for an opinion on a subject that we are still thinking about. This question presupposes a good relationship of trust between the interlocutors and also opens the possibility of evaluating the pros and cons of the proposed opinions.

It was far from being the case in this story ! First, the purpose of the dialogue was to trap the Lord (v.16) and not to be interested in his opinion. Secondly, the Pharisees, for fear of being unmasked, abstain from participating in the dialogue and delegate "their disciples," whom Calvin, in his commentaries on this chapter, does not hesitate to describe as "spies" (v. 16). ). Then, they associate with their approach the herodians, members of a political party slavishly subservient to the Romans, declared enemies of the Pharisees of all times. Finally, while addressing the Lord with a bow that is apparently as respectful as it is faithful to the truth, they only reveal their hypocrisy (verses 16, 17).

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." The answer of the Lord proves that he did not let himself be trapped: if the Jews were to pay a tribute to Caesar, it was because they were subject to him because of their disobedience, but that it did not exempt them from rendering to God what they owed him.

If this episode illustrates the pre-knowledge of the Lord and his authority over everything, it is also a warning and encouragement to us. Revealing the intentions of a banal "what do you think" can hide, he warns us against the tricks of an enemy who hopes to trap us as he used the Pharisees to attack the Lord. Let us therefore watch ... "being steadfast in faith" (1 Pet. 5. 8, 9). But this question also gives us the wonderful opportunity to bear witness to the Lord, to his Word, to his Church, as well as to our hope. Let us remember this exhortation : "Let your word always be in a spirit of grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one" (Col. 4: 6).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)