Matthew 22:18

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites?

But {G1161} Jesus {G2424} perceived {G1097} their {G846} wickedness {G4189}, and said {G2036}, Why {G5101} tempt ye {G3985} me {G3165}, ye hypocrites {G5273}?

Yeshua, however, knowing their malicious intent, said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?

But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?

Matthew 22:18 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, revealing His divine insight and direct confrontation with religious insincerity.

Context

This verse is part of a series of confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem, specifically the Pharisees and the Herodians. As described in Matthew 22:15, they sought to "entangle him in his talk." Their question about paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:17) was a carefully crafted trap: if Jesus said yes, He'd alienate the Jewish populace who resented Roman rule; if He said no, He'd be accused of sedition against Rome. Their intention was not to seek truth but to find grounds for His arrest or discredit Him among the people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Perception: Jesus' ability to "perceive their wickedness" highlights His supernatural knowledge. He didn't merely guess their intentions; He fully understood the malice and deceit in their hearts. This underscores His omniscience and spiritual authority.
  • Exposed Hypocrisy: Jesus' direct accusation, "Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?", cuts to the core of their character. They presented themselves as pious seekers of truth, but their true motives were rooted in envy, malice, and a desire to destroy Him. This exposure of pretense is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, particularly against the religious leaders, as seen in Matthew 23:13 and subsequent verses.
  • Spiritual Warfare: This encounter is more than a debate; it's a spiritual battle where light confronts darkness. Jesus' perception and direct challenge signify His victory over their deceptive schemes.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Perceived" (Greek: ginōskō): This word implies a deep, intuitive knowledge, not just a surface-level understanding. Jesus didn't just 'figure out' their plot; He 'knew' their inner evil and intent.
  • "Wickedness" (Greek: ponēria): This term denotes inherent evil, malice, and depravity. It's not just a mistake or a bad idea, but a deeply rooted evil disposition.
  • "Tempt" (Greek: peirazō): While it can mean 'to test' or 'to try', in this context, it carries the strong connotation of attempting to entrap, ensnare, or lead into sin.
  • "Hypocrites" (Greek: hypokritēs): Literally meaning "an actor" or "one who wears a mask," this term perfectly describes their pretense. They were playing a role of righteousness and sincerity, but their true selves were filled with malice and deceit. Jesus frequently used this strong term to denounce those who outwardly appeared religious but lacked true inner piety.

Practical Application

Matthew 22:18 serves as a powerful reminder that God sees beyond our outward appearances and intentions. We are called to genuine faith and integrity, not merely outward religiosity. This verse encourages us to:

  • Examine Our Own Hearts: Are our actions motivated by sincere devotion or by hidden agendas, pride, or a desire for human approval? As 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, "the LORD seeth not as man seeth... but the LORD looketh on the heart."
  • Seek Sincerity: True faith is marked by authenticity and transparency before God. We are to be genuine in our worship, service, and relationships.
  • Discernment: While we cannot perceive wickedness as Jesus did, this passage encourages us to pray for spiritual discernment to recognize deceptive motives and practices, especially within religious contexts.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • John 8:6

    This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with [his] finger wrote on the ground, [as though he heard them not].

  • Luke 5:22

    But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

  • Mark 2:8

    And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

  • Acts 5:9

    Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and shall carry thee out.

  • Luke 9:47

    And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

  • Revelation 2:23

    And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

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