Fearing to touch Him themselves, and finding no foothold against Him according to the Mosaic law, His enemies sought to bring Christ into collision with the civil power. To do this, no hypocrisy was too mean.
So poor was our Lord that He must needs ask them to furnish the penny or drachma. Caesar has a certain claim on us. He has earned certain rights of homage and tribute by preserving the good order of society and the safety of our persons; but there his authority ends. When he intrudes into the realm of conscience, he is a usurper. In that kingdom he has no claims whatever.
We must give Caesar his dues. They can be paid in the coin of earth's mintage; but he has no claim on our conscience, faith, love. These bear the mint-mark of God, and to God they must be rendered. Ah, soul! Thou belongest to the great King; thou art stamped with His image and superscription! Give Him thyself! [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 20
1Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism 9The parable of the vineyard 19Of giving tribute to Caesar 27He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection 41How Jesus is the Son of David 45He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes
Greek Commentary for Luke 20:23
Perceived [κατανοησας] From κατανοεω katanoeō to put the mind down on. Mark has ειδως eidōs “knowing,” and Matthew γνους gnous coming to know or grasping (second aorist active participle of γινωσκω ginōskō). [source]
Craftiness [πανουργιαν] Old word for doing any deed. Matthew has “wickedness” Unscrupulous they certainly were. They would stoop to any trick and go the limit. [source]
Craftiness [πανουργίαν] From πᾶν , every, and ἔργον , deed. Readiness for every and any deed. Hence unscrupulousness, and so, generally, knavery. [source]
2 Corinthians 4:2The hidden things of shame [τα κρυπτα της αισχυνης] They do attack the minister. His only safety is in instant and courageous defiance to all the powers of darkness. It is a terrible thing to see a preacher caught in the toils of the tempter. In craftiness (εν πανουργιαι en panourgiāi). Old word from πανουργος panourgos (παν εργον panergon), a doer of any deed (good or bad), clever, cunning, deceitful. See note on Luke 20:23. Handling deceitfully Present active participle of δολουντες doloō from δολοω dolos deceit (from δολος delō to catch with bait), old and common verb, in papyri and inscriptions, to ensnare, to corrupt with error. Only here in N.T. Used of adulterating gold or wine. To every conscience of men (δελω pros pāsan suneidēsin anthrōpōn). Not to whim, foible, prejudice. See note on 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 for “commending” (προς πασαν συνειδησιν αντρωπων sunistanontes). [source]
2 Corinthians 4:2In craftiness [εν πανουργιαι] Old word from πανουργος panourgos (παν εργον panergon), a doer of any deed (good or bad), clever, cunning, deceitful. See note on Luke 20:23. [source]
Greek Commentary for Luke 20:23
From κατανοεω katanoeō to put the mind down on. Mark has ειδως eidōs “knowing,” and Matthew γνους gnous coming to know or grasping (second aorist active participle of γινωσκω ginōskō). [source]
Old word for doing any deed. Matthew has “wickedness” Unscrupulous they certainly were. They would stoop to any trick and go the limit. [source]
See on considerest, Matthew 7:3. [source]
From πᾶν , every, and ἔργον , deed. Readiness for every and any deed. Hence unscrupulousness, and so, generally, knavery. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 20:23
See on Luke 20:23. [source]
They do attack the minister. His only safety is in instant and courageous defiance to all the powers of darkness. It is a terrible thing to see a preacher caught in the toils of the tempter. In craftiness (εν πανουργιαι en panourgiāi). Old word from πανουργος panourgos (παν εργον panergon), a doer of any deed (good or bad), clever, cunning, deceitful. See note on Luke 20:23. Handling deceitfully Present active participle of δολουντες doloō from δολοω dolos deceit (from δολος delō to catch with bait), old and common verb, in papyri and inscriptions, to ensnare, to corrupt with error. Only here in N.T. Used of adulterating gold or wine. To every conscience of men (δελω pros pāsan suneidēsin anthrōpōn). Not to whim, foible, prejudice. See note on 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 for “commending” (προς πασαν συνειδησιν αντρωπων sunistanontes). [source]
Old word from πανουργος panourgos (παν εργον panergon), a doer of any deed (good or bad), clever, cunning, deceitful. See note on Luke 20:23. [source]
See on Luke 20:23. The craft which gamblers use. [source]