So the spies questioned Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right. We know you don’t favor one person over another. You teach the way of God truthfully.
They sent their disciples to him with some of the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you’re a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t let others influence what you do or say, no matter how important they are.
Now do I sound like somebody who wants people to think well of me? Or do I sound like somebody who wants God to think well of me? If I were still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be serving Christ.
Unlike many people, we aren’t selling God’s word to make money. It’s just the opposite! Because of Christ, we speak honestly before God, as people God has truly sent.
came to see Jesus one night. He said, “Rabbi, we know that you’re a teacher who has come from God, because no one could do the signs you’re doing unless God was with them.”
They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you’re honest and that you don’t let other people tell you what to do or say, no matter how important they are. Instead, you teach the way of God truthfully. So, according to the law of Moses, is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar, or not?
The people in Jerusalem who were considered to be important didn’t add anything to my message. (And it didn’t matter to me who they were anyway. God doesn’t see some people as more important than others.)
The religious leaders sent spies to keep a close watch on Jesus. The spies pretended to be sincere, but they were hoping that they could trap Jesus in something he said. Then they could hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.