Following Jesus’ series of judgment parables against them, the religionists responded by confronting Him with a series of three questions to maneuver Him into condemning Himself either politically or religiously.
继耶稣向宗教领袖所发出的一系列审判性比喻，他们也以三个问题作出回应，想设陷阱让耶稣说出触犯政治或宗教条规的话，从而控告祂。
- The attack 其攻击 (22:15-17)
The Pharisees used their disciples to pose this question on poll tax in hope that Jesus would be caught off guard. They even allied with the Herodians who had strong allegiance to Rome as their witness against Jesus. The poll-tax was an annual tax which was resented by the Jews. If Jesus gave a favorable answer to the tax, He would become despised by the Jewish community. But if He declared that the tax should not be paid to Caesar, He would then be accused as an insurrectionist.
法利赛人利用他们的门徒提出有关人头税的问题，希望能藉此向耶稣发出突击。他们甚至和效忠与罗马的希律党人联盟，要他们作见证。人头税是犹太人所痛恨缴交的年度税收；倘若耶稣同意缴税，祂就会受到犹太人的憎恨。然而，如果祂说人不当纳税给凯撒，祂就能被控有反叛之罪。
- The analogy 其比喻 (22:18-20)
Only the Roman denarius could be used to pay the poll-tax in Jesus days. It was exclusively minted by the emperor, with his engraving and an identifying inscription. It was the denarius that Jesus used as the analogy before answering them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
在耶稣的时代，只有罗马银钱可被用来纳税。它是帝王独特铸币的，且印了帝王的雕刻与铭文。这就是耶稣在回答他们之前所用的比喻：“凯撒的物当归给凯撒，神的物当归给神。”
- The answer 其答复 (22:21-22)
The word “render” means to give back and carries the idea of obligation and responsibility. In His answer, Jesus here declared that every person has the legitimate duty of paying taxes to their government. This is the authority given to the government by God. However, men must also render to God the things that are God’s.
“归给”之意就是归还，且包含了义务与责任之意。在祂的答复中，耶稣宣告每一个人都有责任向他们的政府纳税；这是神所给予各政府的权柄。然而，人也必须把神的物归给神。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Instead of taking Jesus’ warnings to heart and seeking to avoid the judgment, the Pharisees only wanted a word from Jesus in order to bring about His own destruction. What about you? Are you taking the Word of God to heart? Or are you focusing to get what you want?
法利赛人不但没听取耶稣的警告寻求逃避审判，还想陷害耶稣，要祂自行毁灭。你呢？你是否听从神的话，还是专注于个人的利益？
- “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Rom 13:1) Do you obey the governing authorities or do you follow the cultural practice of opposing against them? Let’s pray that we will obey the government not in fear of men, but in the fear of God.
“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的，凡掌权的都是神所命的”（罗13:1）。你是否服从在政的权柄，还是跟随反抗政府的文化呢？让我们祷告，叫我们不因畏惧人，而是因敬畏神顺服政府。
- The government only has authority over us in the social and economic realm. Are you able to discern your obligation to the government and to God?
政府对我们的权柄只限于社会与经济的领域。你是否能辨别你对政府与神的职责呢？
