Matthew 22:15 (WEB)

Passage

Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’

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

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.

Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.

Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "pharisees", "went", "took", "counsel", "might", "entrap", and "talk". 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 chosen..." into verse 16's "They sent their disciples to him along...", 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.