Why Were the Pharisees Trying to Trap Jesus? What Were They Trying to Achieve?

Jesus and pharisees

Matthew 22:15-22 is a passage in the Bible that describes an event in which the Pharisees, a group of Jewish religious leaders, attempted to trap Jesus with a question about taxes. The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus because they saw him as a threat to their authority and were determined to discredit him in the eyes of the people.

The Pharisees were a powerful and influential group in Jewish society during the time of Jesus. They were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and their interpretation of Jewish customs and traditions. They believed that they were the experts on the Law and that they were the only ones qualified to interpret it correctly.

Jesus, however, challenged their authority by teaching in a way that was different from the traditional teachings of the Pharisees. He often spoke in parables and used common everyday examples to explain the teachings of God. He also preached a message of love, forgiveness, and compassion, which was in contrast to the Pharisees' focus on legalism and strict adherence to the Law.

The Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and began to look for ways to discredit him. In Matthew 22:15-22, they attempted to trap Jesus by asking him a question about taxes. They asked him whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not, hoping that he would say something that would be interpreted as either rebellious or traitorous.

However, Jesus saw through their trap and replied, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21) This response effectively neutralized their trap and left them with nothing to accuse him of.

In this passage, the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus in order to discredit him in the eyes of the people and maintain their own authority. However, Jesus' wisdom and ability to see through their trap left them powerless and unable to achieve their goal. This passage serves as a reminder that even when faced with those who seek to undermine our beliefs and authority, we can remain true to ourselves and trust in God's guidance to navigate these difficult situations.

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