SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:16
Y envían a l los discípulos de ellos, con los de Herodes, diciendo: Maestro, sabemos que eres amador de verdad, y que enseas con verdad el camino de Dios, y que no te curas de nadie, porque no tienes acepcin de persona de hombres.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 22:16
Verse 16. The Herodians] For an account of this sect, see the note on chap. xvi. 1. The preceding parable had covered the Pharisees with confusion: when it was ended they went out, not to humble themselves before God, and deprecate the judgments with which they were threatened; but to plot afresh the destruction of their teacher. The depth of their malice appears, 1. In their mode of attack. They had often questioned our Lord on matters concerning religion; and his answers only served to increase his reputation, and their confusion. They now shift their ground, and question him concerning state affairs, and the question is such as must be answered; and yet the answer, to all human appearance, can be none other than what may be construed into a crime against the people, or against the Roman government. 2. Their profound malice appears farther in the choice of their companions in this business, viz. the Herodians. Herod was at this very time at Jerusalem, whither he had come to hold the passover. Jesus, being of Nazareth, which was in Herod's jurisdiction, was considered as his subject. Herod himself was extremely attached to the Roman emperor, and made a public profession of it: all these considerations engaged the Pharisees to unite the Herodians, who, as the Syriac intimates, were the domestics of Herod, in this infernal plot. 3. Their profound malice appears, farther, in the praises they gave our Lord.
Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God. This was indeed the real character of our blessed Lord; and now they bear testimony to the truth, merely with the design to make it subserve their bloody purposes. Those whose hearts are influenced by the spirit of the wicked one never do good, but when they hope to accomplish evil by it.
Men who praise you to your face are ever to be suspected. The Italians have a very expressive proverb on this subject:-Che ti fa carezze piu che non suole, O t' ha ingannato, o ingannar ti vuole He who caresses thee more than he was wont to do, has either DECEIVED thee, or is ABOUT TO DO IT.
I have never known the sentiment in this proverb to fail; and it was notoriously exemplified in the present instance. Flatterers, though they speak the truth, ever carry about with them a base or malicious soul. 4.
Their malice appears still farther in the question they propose. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?-ver. 17. The constitution of the Jewish republic, the expectations which they had of future glory and excellence, and the diversity of opinions which divided the Jews on this subject, rendered an answer to this question extremely difficult:-1.
In the presence of the people, who professed to have no other king but God, and looked on their independence as an essential point of their religion.
2. In the presence of the Pharisees, who were ready to stir up the people against him, if his decision could be at all construed to be contrary to their prejudices, or to their religious rights.
3. In the presence of the Herodians, who, if the answer should appear to be against Caesar's rights, were ready to inflame their master to avenge, by the death of our Lord, the affront offered to his master the emperor.
4. The answer was difficult, because of the different sentiments of the Jews on this subject; some maintaining that they could not lawfully pay tribute to a heathen governor: while others held that as they were now under this strange government, and had no power to free themselves from it, it was lawful for them to pay what they had not power to refuse.
5. The answer was difficult, when it is considered that multitudes of the people had begun now to receive Jesus as the promised Messiah, who was to be the deliverer of their nation from spiritual and temporal oppression, and therefore had lately sung to him the Hosanna Rabba: see chap. xxi. 9. If then he should decide the question in Caesar's favour, what idea must the people have of him, either as zealous for the law, or as the expected Messiah? If against Caesar, he is ruined. Who that loved Jesus, and was not convinced of his sovereign wisdom, could help trembling for him in these circumstances? Jesus opposes the depth of his wisdom to the depth of their malice, and manifests it:- 1. By unmasking them, and showing that he knew the very secrets of their hearts. Ye HYPOCRITES! why tempt ye me? i.e. why do ye try me thus? This must cover them with confusion, when they saw their motives thus discovered; and tend much to lessen their influence in the sight of the people, when it was manifest that they acted not through a desire to receive information, by which to regulate their conduct, but merely to ensnare and ruin him.
2. Christ shows his profound wisdom in not attempting to discuss the question at large; but settled the business by seizing a maxim that was common among all people, and acknowledged among the Jews, That the prince who causes his image and titles to be stamped on the current coin of a country, is virtually acknowledged thereby as the governor. See Maimon. Gezel. c. v. in Wetstein. When Sultan MAHMOUD, king of Maveralnahar, Turquestan, and the Indies, wished to seize on the dominions of SEIDEH, queen of Persia, who governed in the place of her young son Megededde-vlet, about A. D. 909, he sent an ambassador to her with the following order: You must acknowledge me for your KING, cause the kootbah to be read, i.e. pray for me in all the mosques of the kingdom, and GET YOUR MONEY recoined, with the IMPRESSION THAT IS ON MINE: thus denoting that she must become absolutely subject to him. See Bibliot. Orient. de Galand. p. 453. Esau Afghan carried his conquest into Bhatty, into the viceroyalty of Bengal, and caused the kootbah to be read, and coin to be struck in the name of the Emperor Akbar. Ayeen Akbery, vol. ii p. 5. See also p. 38,92,94,130,139,187.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And they sent out unto him their disciples , etc.] Who were trained up in the same way of thinking with themselves, had imbibed the same tenets, and were strenuous defenders of them; and no doubt they selected the most crafty and artful among them; and who were the best versed in their principles and sophistic method of arguing: these they the rather sent, imagining they would not be known, as they themselves were: and from their age and air of simplicity, might be taken for innocent persons, who in great sincerity, came to be instructed by him, with the Herodians : learned men are very much divided in their sentiments about these men; some think they were Gentiles under the government of Herod; but it is not likely that the Pharisees would join themselves with such, whose company they carefully shunned; others, that they were Gentile proselytes, as Herod was; but that on either of these accounts, they should be called by his name, there seems to be no reason: others say, they were Greeks, whom Herod brought out of a desert into his own country, and formed a sect, which from him were called Herodians: this way went Drusius, in which he was followed by several learned men, until the mistake was detected; who took it from a passage in the Hebrew Lexicon, called Baal Aruch, mistaking the word ynwy , for Greeks, which signifies doves: the Jewish writer referring to a passage in the Misna f1173 , which speaks of twaysdrj ynwy , Herodian doves; that is, tame ones, such as were brought up in houses: for that these are meant, is clear from the Misnic and Talmudic writers, and their commentators f1174 ; and were so called, because that Herod was the first that tamed wild doves, and brought up tame ones in his own palace; and so Josephus says, that he had many towers stored with tame doves, which was a new thing in Judea.
Others, that they were Sadducees, which carries some appearance of truth in it; since what is styled the leaven of the Sadducees, in ( Matthew 16:6) is called the leaven of Herod, in ( Mark 8:15) And very probable it is, that Herod was a Sadducee, and that his courtiers, at least many of them, were of the same sect; but yet it is certain, that the Sadducees are spoken of, as distinct from these Herodians, in ( Matthew 22:23) of this chapter. Others, that they were a set of men, that formed a new scheme of religion, consisting partly of Judaism, and partly of Gentilism, approved and espoused by Herod, and therefore called by his name; and others, that they were such as held, that Herod was the Messiah; but it is certain, that Herod did not think so himself, nor the people of the Jews in common; and whatever flatterers he might have in his life time, it can hardly be thought, that this notion should survive his death, who was odious to the Jewish nation: others think, that they were such, who were not for paying tribute to Caesar, but to Herod, and were encouraged and defended by him and his courtiers, as much as they could; since he and his family looked upon themselves to be injured by the Romans, and secretly grudged that tribute should be paid unto them: others, on the contrary, say, that these were such, who pleaded that tribute ought to be paid to Caesar, by whose means Herod enjoyed his government, and was supported in it; and were just the reverse of the Pharisees, with whom they are here joined, in their attempts on Christ. The Syriac version renders the word by sdwrh tybd , those of the house, or family of Herod, his courtiers and domestics: in Munster s Hebrew Gospel, they are called swdwrh ydb[ , the servants of Herod; and certain it is, that Herod was at Jerusalem at this time, ( Luke 23:7) We read of Menahem, who was one while an associate of Hillell, who with eighty more clad in gold, went lmh tdwb[l , into the service of the king, that is, Herod, and hence might be called Herodians. Wherefore these seem rather to be the persons designed, whom the Pharisees chose to send with their disciples, though they were of Herods party, and were on the other side of the question from them; being for giving tribute to Caesar, by whom their master held his government; that should Christ be ensnared by them, as they hoped he would, into any seditious or treasonable expressions against Caesar, these might either accuse him to Herod, or immediately seize him, and have him before the Roman governor. Luke observes, that these men, the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians, were sent forth as spies, which should feign themselves just men; men of religion and holiness, and who were upright and sincere in their question, and who had strong inclinations to become his disciples: the Jews themselves own, that they sent such persons to Jesus, whom they mention by name, in such a disguised manner to deceive him: their words are these f1177 ; They (the Sanhedrim) sent unto him Ananiah and Ahaziah, honourable men of the lesser sanhedrim, and when they came before him they bowed down to him and he thought that they believed in him, and he received them very courteously. Saying, master : as if they were his disciples, or at least were very willing to be so: however, they allow him to be a doctor or teacher, and a very considerable one: we know that thou art true ; a true and faithful minister, that teachest truth, and speakest uprightly; one of great integrity, and to be depended upon: and teachest the way of God in truth ; rightly opens the word of God, gives the true and genuine sense the law of God, faithfully instructs men in the worship of God; and with great sincerity, directs men to the way of coming to God, and enjoying eternal happiness with him; having no sinister ends, or worldly interest in view: neither carest thou for any man ; be he ever so great and honourable, in ever so high a station, be he Caesar himself; signifying, that he was a man of such openness and integrity, that he always freely spoke the real sentiments of his mind, whether men were pleased or displeased; being in no fear of man, nor in the least to be intimidated by frowns and menaces, or any danger from men: for thou regardest not the person of men; as he had not the persons of the high priests and elders, the grand sanhedrim of the nation, who had lately been examining him in the temple: and seeing therefore he made no difference among men, whether learned or unlearned, rich or poor, high or low; whether they were in exalted stations and high offices, or not he feared no mans face, and accepted no mans person, but gave his sense of things, without fear or flattery; they hoped he would give a direct answer to the following question, though Caesar himself was concerned in it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-22 - The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party amon the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Thoug opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Chris saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lor Jesus sees through it. Christ did not interpose as a judge in matter of this nature, for his kingdom is not of this world, but he enjoin peaceable subjection to the powers that be. His adversaries wer reproved, and his disciples were taught that the Christian religion i no enemy to civil government. Christ is, and will be, the wonder, no only of his friends, but of his enemies. They admire his wisdom, but will not be guided by it; his power, but will not submit to it.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ αποστελλουσιν 649 5719 V-PAI-3P αυτω 846 P-DSM τους 3588 T-APM μαθητας 3101 N-APM αυτων 846 P-GPM μετα 3326 PREP των 3588 T-GPM ηρωδιανων 2265 N-GPM λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM διδασκαλε 1320 N-VSM οιδαμεν 1492 5758 V-RAI-1P οτι 3754 CONJ αληθης 227 A-NSM ει 1488 5748 V-PXI-2S και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF οδον 3598 N-ASF του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM εν 1722 PREP αληθεια 225 N-DSF διδασκεις 1321 5719 V-PAI-2S και 2532 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N μελει 3199 5904 V-PQI-3S σοι 4671 P-2DS περι 4012 PREP ουδενος 3762 A-GSM ου 3756 PRT-N γαρ 1063 CONJ βλεπεις 991 5719 V-PAI-2S εις 1519 PREP προσωπον 4383 N-ASN ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
22:16 {Their disciples} (tous maqetas autwn). Students, pupils, of the Pharisees as in #Mr 2:18. There were two Pharisaic theological seminaries in Jerusalem (Hillel, Shammai). {The Herodians} (twn herwidianwn). Not members of Herod's family or Herod's soldiers, but partisans or followers of Herod. The form in -ianos is a Latin termination like that in cristianos (#Ac 11:26). Mentioned also in #Mr 3:6 combining with the Pharisees against Jesus. {The person of men} (pros"pon anqrwpwn). Literally, face of men. Paying regard to appearance is the Sin of partiality condemned by James (#Jas 2:1,9) when pros"polmpsia, pros"polmptein are used, in imitation of the Hebrew idiom. this suave flattery to Jesus implied "that Jesus was a reckless simpleton" (Bruce).
