Chapter LXXII.—Of the Harmony Characterizing the Narratives Given by These Three
Evangelists Regarding the Duty of Rendering to Cæsar the Coin Bearing His Image, and
Regarding the Woman Who Had Been Married to the Seven Brothers.
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140. Matthew then continues in these terms: “Then went the Pharisees, and took
counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they send out unto Him their disciples,
with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God
in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men: tell us
therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?” and so on, down
to the words, “And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His doctrine.”1166
Mark and Luke give a similar account of these two replies made by the Lord,—namely, the
one on the subject of the coin, which was prompted by the question as to the duty of giving
tribute to Cæsar; and the other on the subject of the resurrection, which was suggested by
the case of the woman who had married the seven brothers in succession. Neither do these
two evangelists differ in the matter of the order.1167 For after the parable which told of the
men to whom the vineyard was let out, and which also dealt with the Jews (against whom
it was directed), and the evil counsel they were devising (which sections are given by all
three evangelists together), these two, Mark and Luke, pass over the parable of the guests
who were invited to the wedding (which only Matthew has introduced), and thereafter they
join company again with the first evangelist, when they record these two passages which
deal with Cæsar’s tribute, and the woman who was the wife of seven different husbands,
inserting them in precisely the same order, with a consistency which admits of no question.
1166 Matt. xxii. 15–33.
1167 Mark xii. 13–27; Luke xx. 20–40.
Of the Harmony Characterizing the Narratives Given by These Three Evangelists Regarding the Duty of Rendering to Cæsar the Coin Bearing His Image, and Regarding the Woman Who Had Been Married to the Seven Brothers.
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Of the Harmony Characterizing the Narratives Given by These Three Evangelists…