The Meaning of Matthew 22:18 Explained

Matthew 22:18

KJV: But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

YLT: And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, 'Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites?

Darby: But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, Why tempt ye me, hypocrites?

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 22:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 22:15-22 - Duties To God And Society
This reading begins a marvelous cycle of interviews between our Lord and His questioners. First the Herodians, then the Sadducees, and finally the Pharisees were answered and silenced. What inimitable wisdom there was in His replies! How masterfully He turned the battle from the gate and slew them with their own swords!
Theoretically God was King in Israel. Were, then, the Jews justified in paying tribute to Caesar? If our Lord had said so, His enemies would have accused Him of treachery to the theocracy. If He had forbidden it, they would have accused Him of treachery to their Roman conquerors. Our Lord answered with marvelous wisdom. He tore aside the veil and revealed their hypocrisy. That coin indicated that the Romans were responsible for maintaining law and order. It was surely right that Caesar's dues should be paid. But it was equally right to give to God the souls that He had redeemed. Are we as careful in rendering to God our hearts and lives as we are in paying our taxes and serving the state? [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 22

1  The parable of the marriage of the king's son
9  The vocation of the Gentiles
12  The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment
15  Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar
23  Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection;
34  answers which is the first and great commandment;
41  and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah

What do the individual words in Matthew 22:18 mean?

Having known however - Jesus the malice of them He said Why Me do you test hypocrites
Γνοὺς δὲ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν εἶπεν Τί με πειράζετε ὑποκριταί

Γνοὺς  Having  known 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
πονηρίαν  malice 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πονηρία  
Sense: depravity, iniquity, wickedness.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
πειράζετε  do  you  test 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πειράζω  
Sense: to try whether a thing can be done.
ὑποκριταί  hypocrites 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑποκριτής  
Sense: one who answers, an interpreter.