Matthew 22:15-19: a reflection

15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk. 16They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach; for you aren’t partial to anyone. 17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.

The Pharisees set out to trap Jesus in his words, and they begin with flattery. They send their disciples, who approach him with smooth praise: Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no one's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. It sounds like sincere admiration; but it is a trap, meant to disarm him before they spring their question. And Jesus is not fooled: perceiving their malice, he says, Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

Notice the emptiness of their flattery, and that Jesus saw straight through it. Their words of praise were true enough in what they said of him, but they were insincere, spoken not out of genuine regard but to manipulate him toward a trap. Yet the flattery did not work; Jesus perceived their real motive beneath the smooth words, and named their hypocrisy. He was not taken in by praise that hid a hostile intent.

That is a caution and a comfort. A caution, because we can be tempted to use flattery ourselves, saying pleasant things to people not out of genuine regard but to gain something from them, to manipulate or disarm; but such flattery is a form of dishonesty, hollow praise hiding a hidden motive. And a comfort, because God, like Christ here, sees through our pretenses to the heart; we cannot manipulate him with fine words. Be sincere rather than flattering; let your words of praise be genuine, not tools to get something from others. And remember that God sees the heart beneath the words; there is no fooling him with flattery, so come to him, and deal with others, in honesty rather than empty praise.

Lord Jesus, the Pharisees approached you with smooth flattery to trap you, praising you insincerely to disarm you; but you saw through their empty words to their real motive, and named their hypocrisy. Give me both the caution and the comfort in this. Guard me from using flattery myself, saying pleasant things to people not out of genuine regard but to gain something, to manipulate or disarm; such flattery is a form of dishonesty, hollow praise hiding a hidden motive. Help me be sincere rather than flattering, and let my words of praise be genuine, not tools to get something from others. And thank you that you, like Christ, see through every pretense to the heart; I cannot manipulate you with fine words. Help me come to you, and deal with others, in honesty rather than empty praise, knowing that you see the heart beneath the words. Make me sincere, Lord.