What does "What do you think?" reveal about the people's expectations of Jesus? Setting the Scene “Tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:17) The Question “What do you think?” Jesus is approached by Pharisees and Herodians—groups normally at odds, now united to entrap Him. Their polite-sounding request, “What do you think?” carries layers of expectation: • They acknowledge His reputation for wisdom but assume they can corner Him. • They anticipate a simple, direct ruling that can be used against Him—either to indict Him before Rome or to discredit Him before the people. • They expect Jesus to fit within their preconceived categories: partisan revolutionary or compliant collaborator. What It Shows About People’s Expectations 1. Political Messiah on Their Terms – Many Jews looked for a deliverer who would overthrow Roman rule (cf. Luke 19:11; John 6:15). – By forcing a tax-question, they press Jesus to declare Himself either anti-Roman (insurrectionist) or pro-Roman (traitor in their eyes). 2. Religious Arbiter Under Their Authority – Calling Him “Teacher” sounds respectful, yet they treat Him as a subordinate expert whose opinion they can scrutinize (cf. Luke 20:20). – They assume they, not He, set the agenda. 3. Limited View of His Identity – They see Him as a gifted rabbi, not the sovereign Lord who sees their hearts (Matthew 22:18). – Their question implies He is merely another voice in the rabbinic debate, not the King to whom Caesar himself must answer (Revelation 19:16). Jesus Redirects Expectations • He exposes their hypocrisy: “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?” (Matthew 22:18). • He transcends the trap with the coin object lesson: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). • In one sentence He affirms legitimate civil authority yet asserts a higher divine claim, shattering their either-or framework. Key Takeaways • Jesus will not be boxed in by human agendas; His kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36). • Attempts to make Him endorse our political or religious schemes reveal we have underestimated Him. • True discipleship begins when we stop demanding Jesus answer our loaded questions and instead submit to His authority and truth. Supporting Scriptures • Matthew 19:16–22 – The rich young ruler likewise approaches Jesus as a teacher but leaves unwilling to submit to His lordship. • Matthew 16:13–17 – Jesus redirects the disciples from public opinions to the Spirit-given confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” • Isaiah 55:8–9 – God’s thoughts transcend ours, reminding us that Christ’s answers will often overturn human expectations. |
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