12当祭司长和民间的长老查问到主耶稣的权柄时，祂说了另一句智慧的话。（太二一23。）祂题出一个关于祂自己的问题，以此回答他们。『我也要问你们一句话，你们若告诉我，我就告诉你们，我仗著甚么权柄作这些事。约翰的浸是从那里来的？是从天上来的，还是从人来的？』（太二一24～25上。）反对者彼此议论说，『我们若说从天上来的，祂必对我们说，这样，你们为甚么不信他？若说从人来的，我们又怕群众，因为他们都以约翰为申言者。』（太二一25下～。）所以，他们决定撒谎，就说，『我们不知道。』（太二一27上。）主耶稣也就回答说，『我也不告诉你们，我仗著甚么权柄作这些事。』（太二一27下。）主用『也不』这辞，指明祂知道他们在撒谎。主似乎在说，『你们不知道并不是真的。你们知道，但不愿告诉我。现在我也不告诉你们，我仗著甚么权柄作这些事。你们说谎，我却说实话。』主耶稣有何等的智慧！在马太二十二章十五至二十二节，主再次展示祂的智慧。法利赛人打发他们的门徒同希律党的人到耶稣那里，说，『夫子，我们知道你是诚实的，并且诚诚实实教导神的道路，甚么人你都不顾忌，因为你不看人的外貌。请告诉我们，你怎么看，纳税给该撒，可以不可以？』（太二二16～17。）这问题是个陷阱，要叫主耶稣为难。所有的犹太人都反对纳税给该撒。祂若说可以这样作，就得罪所有以法利赛人为首的犹太人；祂若说不可以，就叫支持罗马政府的希律党人，得著有力的根据控告祂。在祂的智慧里，祂就对他们说，『拿一个上税的钱给我看，』（太二二19上，）他们就拿一个银币给祂。主耶稣没有拿出罗马钱币，却叫他们拿一个给祂看。他们持有罗马钱币，所以被主捉到了。然后祂接著问说，『这像和这号是谁的？』（太二二20。）当他们回答，『是该撒的，』祂就对他们说，『把该撒的物归给该撒，把神的物归给神。』（太二二21。）他们听见这智慧的话，就希奇而离开了。
12The Lord Jesus spoke another wise word when He was questioned by the chief priests and elders of the people about His authority (Matt. 21:23). He answered their question with a question of His own. “I also will question you about one thing, which if you tell Me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?” (vv. 24-25a). The opposers reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, From heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him? But if we say, From men, we fear the crowd, for all hold John as a prophet” (vv. 25b-26). Therefore, they decided to lie and say, “We do not know” 26 (v. 27a). To this the Lord Jesus replied, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things” (v. 27b). The Lord’s use of the word “neither” indicates that He knew that they were lying. The Lord seemed to be saying, “It is not true that you do not know. You know, but you are not willing to tell Me. Now neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. You speak a lie, but I speak the truth.” What wisdom the Lord Jesus has! The Lord displayed His wisdom once again in Matthew 22:15-22. The Pharisees sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and that you teach the way of God in truth and do not care for anyone, for you do not regard the person of men. Tell us therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” (vv. 16-17). This ensnaring question put the Lord Jesus into a dilemma. Giving tribute to Caesar was opposed by all the Jews. If He had said that it was lawful to do this, He would have offended the Jews, whose leaders were the Pharisees. If He had said that it was not lawful, this would have given the Herodians, who stood with the Roman government, strong ground to accuse Him. In His wisdom, He said to them, “Show Me the tribute money” (v. 19a), and they showed Him a denarius. The Lord Jesus did not show the Roman coin but asked them to show one to Him. Since they possessed one of the Roman coins, they were caught. Then He went on to ask, “Whose is this image and inscription?” (v. 20). When they answered, “Caesar’s,” He said to them, “Pay then what is Caesar’st o Caesar, and what is God’st o God” (v. 21). When they heard this wise word, they marveled and went away.