John Calvin Commentary Matthew 22:15

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in [his] talk." — Matthew 22:15 (ASV)

That they might entrap him in his words. The Pharisees, perceiving that all their other attempts against Christ had been fruitless, finally concluded that the best and most efficient method of destroying him was to deliver him to the governor as a seditious person and a disturber of the peace.

There was at that time, as we have seen in another passage,⁵⁹ a great dispute among the Jews about the tribute-money. Since the Romans had claimed for themselves the tribute-money—which God commanded to be paid to Himself under the Law of Moses (Exodus 30:13)—the Jews everywhere complained that it was a shameful and intolerable crime for profane men to claim a divine prerogative in this manner.

Besides that, as this payment of tribute, which was required of them by the Law, was a testimony of their adoption, they regarded themselves as deprived of an honor to which they had a just claim. Now, the deeper a man’s poverty was,⁶⁰ the bolder it made him to incite sedition.

This trick of taking Christ by surprise is therefore continued by the Pharisees, so that, however he replied concerning the tribute money, they might lay snares for him. If he affirms that they should not pay, he will be convicted of sedition. If, on the contrary, he acknowledges it to be justly due, he will be held as an enemy of his nation and a betrayer of his country’s liberty.

Their principal object is to lead the people to dislike him. This is the entrapping to which the Evangelists refer, for they suppose that Christ is surrounded on all sides by nets, so that he can no longer escape.

Having avowed themselves to be his enemies, and knowing that they would, on that account, be suspected, they sent forward—as Matthew states—some of their disciples. Luke, again, calls them spies, who pretended to be righteous men; that is, persons who deceitfully professed an honest and proper desire to learn. For the pretense of righteousness is not used here in a general sense but is limited to the present occasion, because they would not have been received if they had not feigned a willingness to learn and genuine zeal.

With the Herodians. They took along with them the Herodians because they were more favorable to the Roman government and therefore would be more disposed to raise an accusation. It is worthy of attention that, even though these sects had fierce disputes with each other, their hatred against Christ was so bitter that they conspired to destroy him.

We have previously explained what the sect of the Herodians was.⁶¹ For Herod, being only half a Jew or a false and corrupt professor of the Law, was condemned along with his impure worship by those who desired that the Law should be kept with exactness and in every part. However, he had his flatterers who gave plausible excuses for his false doctrine. Therefore, in addition to the other sects, a religion of the Court arose at that time.

⁵⁹ Harmony, , vol. 2, p. 368

⁶⁰ “Selon qu’un chacun estoit plus poure, et n’avoit rien à perdre;” — “according as any man was poorer, and had nothing to lose.” Harmony, vol. 2.;” — “according as any man was poorer, and had nothing to lose.” Harmony, vol. 2.

⁶¹ Harmony, vol 2, p. 282..