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Explanation for:
Matthew
22
:
22
And hearing this they wondered, and leaving him, went their ways.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The likeness of God is not found in precious metals, but rather in humanity. While Caesar's currency is made of gold, the true currency of God is humankind. Caesar's presence is observable in his coins, yet God's essence is discerned through people. Therefore, render unto Caesar what is his, yet preserve for God the purity of your conscience, where humanity seeks the Divine. The image of Caesar is crafted by artisans and bears an inscription that can fade. In contrast, God's image in humanity is etched by the Divine Creator through ten living principles. What might these principles be? They are comprised of five earthly and five spiritual elements, through which we recognize and comprehend what serves humanity as God’s likeness. Hence, let us consistently offer back to God His image und tarnished—free from arrogant pride, untainted by the bitterness of anger, unkindled by the fires of greed, not succumbed to the temptations of excess, uninfected by the deceit of hypocrisy, unblemished by the excess of luxury, untroubled by vain conceit, unswayed by the chaos of drunkenness, unfettered by the discord against mutual love, and unscarred by the plague of slander, and unengaged in fruitless chatter. Instead, let us return to Him pure—rooted in love, unwavering in faith and hope, fortified by virtuous endurance, serene through humility, attractive in chastity, moderate in temperance, joyful in peace, and generous in hospitality. These represent the markers God imprints on His creation, not through the clanging of metal but through His willful intention. Caesar demands his image on each piece of currency, but God has chosen humanity, crafted by His own hands, to convey His glory."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Upon hearing this, they were filled with wonder. Those who ought to have embraced such profound wisdom were astonished, as their deception had no room for cunning. Departing from Him, they took with them not only their astonishment but also their disbelief."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Upon hearing His response, the Pharisees were left speechless and astonished by His insight. In that moment, they ought to have embraced their wonder and acknowledged their faith. Indeed, He provided them with undeniable evidence of His divine nature by disclosing their innermost thoughts and humbly rendering them silent. So what happened next? Did they come to faith? Not at all; instead, “leaving Him, they went away.”"},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"On what day did this occur? It happened when the Pharisees withdrew and the Sadducees approached Him. After the Sadducees departed, the Pharisees returned again. Just a single day brought forth so many conflicts. They approached Him with the intention of trapping Him; some sought to outsmart Him in judgment, while others aimed simply to rattle His composure through the sheer frequency of their inquiries. Much like a lone valiant warrior amid a multitude of foes, they banded together, realizing that individually they could not match His strength. By surrounding Him, they sought to intimidate Him, not through power but through numbers, hoping to compel Him to back down.\\n\\nHe identified the error of the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection of the dead. Among all the misconceptions presented to Him, He deemed it essential to dismantle this particular falsehood. In all endeavors, whether physical or spiritual, the underlying motivation is the anticipation of future reward. A farmer toils the soil in hopes of a bountiful harvest; a combatant engages in battle with hopes of triumph. If serving righteousness in this life is so challenging, who can strive for it each day without being driven by the hope of resurrection? Remove the expectation of resurrection, and the entire foundation of a devout life collapses. Did the Sadducees believe in unions after death? They did not! How could they possibly accept the notion of marriage after this life while simultaneously rejecting resurrection? To uphold their misbelief, they thought they had found a compelling rationale, reasoning among themselves: It is inconceivable that a woman, who had been married to seven husbands, could be united with only one of them, or all at once—just as it is impossible to believe in the resurrection of the dead."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Herodians represent either the soldiers of Herod or those who believed him to be the awaited Messiah. When the ruler of Judah fell into poverty, and Herod ascended to power, some began to view him as the Messiah. It was among these individuals that the disciples of the Pharisees conspired to ensnare Christ. They sought to engage Him in dialogue, intending to flatter and soften His demeanor with compliments, hoping that in doing so, He might become amenable and declare, \\"It is not appropriate to pay taxes.\\" They aimed to use this as justification to accuse Him of rebellion, claiming He had incited the populace against Caesar. Consequently, they also included the Herodians, who remained faithful to the king’s authority. They expressed, “Thou shalt not look on any face,” meaning one should not say anything to curry favor with Pilate or Herod. Therefore, they posed the question of whether it is permissible for us to be subjects of earthly rulers and pay taxes, akin to how we offer the didrachma to God, or if our obligations are solely to God. They articulated their inquiry with a particular motive: if He were to respond that tribute to Caesar should not be paid, He would be captured and executed, branded as an ally of those like Judas and Theudas who had revolted against paying homage to Caesar. Yet, Jesus, pointing to the likeness of Caesar on the coin, teaches that what bears Caesar's image, and what belongs to him, should rightly be given to him. In essence, this implies that in external matters relating to our physical existence, we ought to submit to rulers, whereas in spiritual matters, our obedience belongs to God. Another interpretation may suggest that each of us must render to the forces of darkness—the Caesar of the underworld—that which is due to them. For instance, if you experience anger, that anger originates from Caesar, meaning from the evil one; thus, direct your wrath toward the true source of your grievance—in other words, be indignant against the devil. By doing so, you will also offer to God what is rightfully His: you will adhere to His commandments. Furthermore, we can consider that we are dual beings, composed of body and soul: we ought to provide the body, akin to Caesar, with sustenance and clothing, and we must cater to the spiritual aspect of our being—the soul—with what is befitting for it."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"They were astounded by the wisdom in the Lord’s response to the cleverly posed question; His reply exceeded and outsmarted their expectations. While His answer appeared to favor the Herodians, the latter part provided no grounds for the Pharisees to accuse Him. Instead, it emphasized the obligation to give what belongs to God while also fulfilling the duty of paying taxes to Caesar. These responsibilities do not conflict with one another; rather, they harmoniously coexist and must both be upheld. - 'Departing from Him, they left': in light of this, it would have been reasonable for them to accept their defeat, as He had clearly demonstrated His divine nature by unveiling their hidden intentions and gently silencing them. So, what did they truly believe? No; instead, they departed from Him."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon hearing this, they were struck with wonder, as the sacred Evangelist notes; the seekers had to acknowledge that the response was delivered with great intent and wisdom, leaving them in awe of the profound insight that exceeded their expectations. After this, St. Chrysostom observes, it would have been fitting for them to believe and express their astonishment, for He had provided a clear affirmation of His Divinity by disclosing their hidden thoughts and humbly silencing them. But did they believe? No, they walked away, as St. Matthew records, departing with heavy hearts. The depth of the despicable hypocrisy of these Jewish questioners is revealed in their willingness, despite the Divine response and their private acknowledgment of its truth, to pivot to a malicious accusation against Jesus, claiming that He prohibited payment of taxes to Caesar. Saint Philaret of Moscow reflects on this exposure of Pharisaic deceit by stating that the Providence of God turns even the most cunningly devised but ill-intentioned schemes to shame for their originators and can bring good from evil. The Pharisees intended to ensnare Jesus with trickery, aiming to drive Him to ruin; however, the result was a revelation of their frailty and ignorance. Servants of the King of Heaven and ardent supporters of His honor! The King of Heaven does not free you from your responsibilities to the earthly king; rather, He Himself articulates and instructs you to fulfill them, for through Him \\"kings reign\\" (Proverbs 8:15), and \\"there is no authority except from God\\" (Romans 13:1). Notably, although the Pharisees posed the question concerning obligations to Caesar, and the issue regarding taxes and the directive to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's” was clearly and irrefutably addressed, the Lord sought to add another commandment: “and God's things to God.” This emphasizes the integration of both commandments, indicating that the first is incomplete without the second. It is evident that the latter part of this directive, \\"give the things of God to God,\\" carries even greater weight, as God's authority surpasses that of Caesar. Everything belongs to God by the rights of creation, preservation, and governance; thus, the apostle’s inquiry remains poignant: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7). Therefore, what do you possess that you are not bound to return to the all-giving God? What could you withhold from God? God has granted you a mind: dedicate it to God, engaging in the knowledge of Him and contemplating His ways. God has endowed you with a will: yield it to God; let your will align with the law of the Lord and strive to fulfill His commandments. God has gifted you a heart: render it to God; above all, love Him with all your heart. God provides you with material blessings: return them to God, sharing what you have with the needy, and engage with your earthly possessions with gratitude towards God."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The deceitful followers of the Pharisees and Herodians may not have grasped the depth of Jesus' statement, yet they recognized their defeat through His surprising reply. He affirmed that the Jewish people had a duty to pay taxes to Caesar; thus, they could not charge Him before Pilate as an insurrectionist, rendering their malicious inquiry ineffective. Simultaneously, He did not absolve them from adhering to God’s will, nor from their submission to the One True God; consequently, it was impossible to accuse Him of blasphemy before the Sanhedrin."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"“Caesareans,” the questioners replied. Their cunning inquiry soon unraveled. “Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.” By employing Caesar's currency, they unwittingly acknowledged their obligation to pay taxes to him, just as they were to offer back to God what rightly belonged to Him, having received their very existence and all their blessings from the Divine. In this way, their argument collapsed before the profound wisdom of Christ, and the questioners should have been left speechless. Nevertheless, they later accused Christ of brazenly lying by saying He “forbade to give taxes to Caesar” (Luke 23:2)."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon presenting them with the image, he inquired, \\"Whose likeness is this, and what does it say?\\" The clever question regarding the tax was resolved effortlessly, almost naturally: \\"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.\\" These words indicate, as interpreted by St. Philaret of Moscow, that one acknowledges the coin as belonging not just to its rightful possessor, but also to the sovereign whose authority is inscribed upon it, and ultimately to God, the Creator of gold and silver. \\"Give to Caesar,\\" as the Lord would express, \\"all that carries his authority, such as currency: fulfilling this obligation is not something from which you may exempt yourselves at will; yet, it does not impede you in the matter of honoring God. You are capable of giving to Caesar what is owed while also rendering unto God what belongs to Him.\\" The things of God, such as prayer and devotion, are to be offered to Him. This determination brought with it no accusation; the Herodians recognized Caesar's rights, while the Pharisees presumably understood that acknowledging these rights in no way undermined Divine authority. Embarrassed, Christ's adversaries withdrew, astonished by the wisdom of His response, although they later twisted His words, claiming He refused to pay tribute to Caesar (Luke 23:2)."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The chief priests and Pharisees, embarrassed by the Lord's teachings in front of the people, desired to apprehend Jesus Christ and bring Him to trial; however, they feared the very crowd that stood by Him, anticipating His role as the Messiah. Thus, the adversaries of Christ attempted to entrap Him with their inquiries, seeking to undermine the people's reverence for Him and create grounds for His condemnation as a criminal (Luke 20:26). They approached Him with a provocative question: \\"Is it lawful for us (God's chosen people) to pay taxes to Caesar or not?\\" The challenge of this inquiry lay in the fact that if Jesus responded negatively, He would be seen as rebelling against Roman authority; conversely, a positive answer would alienate the people who, influenced by the Pharisees, believed they were obligated to serve only the king-God and that such allegiance could not coexist with obedience to a foreign, secular power. Jesus’ response encapsulates the truth that both responsibilities are intertwined, affirming the necessity to render to earthly authorities a portion of what is earned under their protection, while simultaneously upholding the commandments of God."},{"author-name":"Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ffb7a2ebaf99e46539_Philaret%20of%20Moscow%20(Drosdow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"It is clear that it was not only the Herodians and the Pharisees who once heard and were astonished (Matt. 22:22); even today, those who reflect on these matters continue to be struck by the profound wisdom encapsulated in that concise statement."}]}
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