Luke 20:19-24: a reflection

19The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. 20They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me? 24Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”

When the chief priests and scribes send spies to trap Jesus, pretending to be sincere seekers, they lay a clever snare: a question about paying taxes to Caesar, designed so that either answer would get him in trouble. But Jesus is not caught. He perceived their craftiness, the text says; he saw through their flattery and their trap, and answered with a wisdom that rose above the snare, asking whose image was on the coin. His discernment saw through the pretense and the manipulation; he was not taken in by their flattering approach or trapped by their loaded question, but perceived the craftiness and answered with a wisdom they could not turn against him.

Notice Jesus's discernment of the trap, and the wisdom that rose above it. The spies were crafty, disguising their hostility as sincere inquiry, flattering him before springing their trap. But Jesus perceived their craftiness; he was not deceived by the flattery or caught by the loaded question. He saw through the pretense and the manipulation, and answered with a wisdom that rose above the snare, so that they could not trap him. His discernment saw what was really going on beneath the flattering words; his wisdom found a way through the trap that they had thought inescapable. He was neither taken in by the pretense nor caught by the snare, but perceived and rose above their craftiness.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too need discernment to perceive and rise above the manipulation and traps of others. Others may approach us with flattery masking hostility, with loaded questions or manipulative schemes designed to trap or use us; and we can be taken in, deceived by the pretense, caught by the snare. But Jesus perceived the craftiness and rose above it with wisdom. There is a discernment that sees through manipulation and a wisdom that rises above traps, which we can ask of God. Do not be easily taken in by flattery masking hostility or caught by manipulative traps; ask God for discernment to perceive them and wisdom to rise above them, as Jesus perceived the spies' craftiness. Ask God for discernment to perceive the manipulation and traps of others, and wisdom to rise above them, as Jesus perceived the craftiness of the spies and answered in a way they could not turn against him; for there is a discernment that sees through pretense and a wisdom that rises above snares, and we do well to seek them rather than being easily taken in.

Lord Jesus, when the chief priests and scribes send spies to trap you, pretending to be sincere seekers, they lay a clever snare: a question about paying taxes to Caesar, designed so that either answer would get you in trouble. But you are not caught. He perceived their craftiness, the text says; you saw through their flattery and their trap, and answered with a wisdom that rose above the snare, asking whose image was on the coin. Your discernment saw through the pretense and the manipulation. Show me your discernment of the trap, and the wisdom that rose above it. The spies were crafty, disguising their hostility as sincere inquiry, flattering you before springing their trap. But you perceived their craftiness; you were not deceived by the flattery or caught by the loaded question. You saw through the pretense and answered with a wisdom that rose above the snare. Your discernment saw what was really going on beneath the flattering words; your wisdom found a way through the trap they had thought inescapable. Take that to my heart, for I too need discernment to perceive and rise above the manipulation and traps of others. Others may approach me with flattery masking hostility, with loaded questions or manipulative schemes designed to trap or use me; and I can be taken in, deceived by the pretense, caught by the snare. But you perceived the craftiness and rose above it. Keep me from being easily taken in by flattery masking hostility or caught by manipulative traps; help me ask you for discernment to perceive them and wisdom to rise above them, Lord, as you perceived the spies' craftiness and answered in a way they could not turn against you.