The wily spies felt themselves baffled and defeated. The summary way in which their question had been settled left nothing farther for them to say. Their plans were all disarranged. They had expected Jesus to answer their question directly in one way or the other. If he should say, It is unlawful to give tribute unto Caesar, there were those present whose task it was to immediately bear the report to the Roman authorities, and have Jesus arrested at once as one who was creating rebellion among the Jews. This they hoped would insure his condemnation. But in case he should say, It is lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, they designed to call the attention of the Jewish people to his decision, and accuse him as one opposed to the divine law. {3SP 42.2}

De listige farisæer følte, at de var beskæmmede og overvundne. Den trættende måde, hvorpå deres spørgsmål var blevet afgjort, gav dem ikke anledning til at sige noget mere. Alle deres planer var blevet omstyrtede. De havde ventet, at Jesus ville besvare deres spørgsmål ligefrem på en eller anden måde. Dersom han havde sagt: (43) Det er ikke lovligt at give kejseren skat, så var der nogle tilstede, hvis pligt var øjeblikkelig at berette dette for den romerske øvrighed, så at Jesus straks kunne blive fængslet som en oprørsstifter blandt jøderne. De håbede, at han ville gøre dette, at de således kunne fordømme ham. Men dersom han havde sagt, at det er lovligt at give kejseren skat, så havde de bestemt sig til at henvende jødernes opmærksomhed til dette og anklage ham, fordi han satte sig imod Guds lov.