Matthew 22:15 (LSB)

Passage

Then the Pharisees went and took counsel together about how they might trap Him in what He said.

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel together about how they might trap Him in what He said.

Matthew 22:16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.

Matthew 22:17 Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a tax to Caesar, or not?”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "pharisees", "went", "took", "counsel", "together", "might", "trap", and "said". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "pharisees" and "went", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "For many are called but few are..." into verse 16's "And they sent their disciples to Him...", so "pharisees" and "went" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "pharisees" and "went" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.