Luke 20:19-26 (ESV Strong's)
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
Tag: Wisdom of God vs Wisdom of Man
The religious leaders of the day so hated Jesus that they were willing to set a trap for Him. The problem they faced was that the public followed Him. They had to turn the wave of public opinion against them. Which they did. The public had just worshipped him by saying:
Luke 19:36-38 (ESV Strong's)
And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
This same group would soon say:
Luke 23:20-21 (ESV Strong's)
Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”
The religious leaders had to turn the mindset of the crowd away from “Blessed is the King” to “Crucify him!” The above story about paying taxes was one such attempt. The Jews hated to pay taxes to Rome. If Jesus answered in favor of paying taxes, He would incite the crowed against Him. If Jesus answered against paying taxes they would turn Him over to the Romans for inciting an insurrection. They must have felt so smug. But, to Jesus, it was like a dual with an unarmed man. You cannot trap God with earthily wisdom. The religious leaders do turn the crowd against Jesus. God allowed it. Even that was not the wisdom of man. That was God’s plan. Man’s wisdom is not comparison to God’s wisdom.
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