Matthew - 22:18



18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Matthew 22:18.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?
But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt me, ye hypocrites?
And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, 'Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites?
Perceiving their wickedness, Jesus replied, "Why are you hypocrites trying to ensnare me?
But Jesus saw their trick and said, Oh false ones, why are you attempting to put me in the wrong?
But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Knowing their malice. They had opened the conversation in such a manner that they did not appear to differ at all from excellent scholars. Whence then had Christ this knowledge, but because his Spirit was a discerner of hearts? It was not by human conjecture that he perceived their cunning, but because he was God he penetrated into their hearts, and therefore they gained nothing by attempting the concealment of flattery and of pretended righteousness Accordingly, before giving a reply, he exhibited a proof of his Divinity by laying open their concealed malice. Now since wicked men every day employ snares of the same kind, while their inward malice is concealed from us, we ought to pray to Christ to bestow upon us the spirit of discernment, and that what he had by nature and by his own right he may grant to us by a free gift. How much we need this prudence, is evident from the consideration that, if we do not guard against the snares of the wicked, we shall constantly expose the doctrine of God to their calumnies.

Jesus perceived their wickedness - This must have been done by his power of searching the heart, and proves that he was omniscient.
No more man has the power of discerning the motives of others.
Tempt ye me - Try me, or endeavor to lead me into difficulty by an insidious question.
Hypocrites - Dissemblers. Professing to be candid inquirers, when their only object was to lead into difficulty. See the notes at Matthew 6:2.

Perceived their wickedness. Their deceit.

Ye hypocrites - Pretending a scruple of conscience.

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