Daily Gospel Reflections for Oct 18, 2026

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Matthew 18, 2026, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

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

Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tax money.

They brought to him a denarius. He asked them, Whose is this image and inscription? They said to him, Caesar's. Then he said to them, Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

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The Gospel of the Lord.

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. They sent their disciples to him with the herodian saying, Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man, and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth, and you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? The words spoken to Jesus sound respectful. The Pharisees' disciples call him truthful. They acknowledge that he teaches God's way according to the truth.

They even praise him for not being influenced by status or public opinion. If we heard only these words, we might think they genuinely admired Jesus and wanted his guidance. But Matthew tells us what was happening before the conversation even began.

The Pharisees had already decided to trap him.

Their question about paying the census tax to Caesar was not an honest request for guidance. It was designed to put Jesus in a difficult position. If he rejected the tax, his answer could be used against him before the Roman authorities. If he supported it, he risked angering people who resented Roman rule. They were not searching for truth. They were searching for an answer they could use against him.

There is something uncomfortable in this gospel because this kind of behaviour is not limited to the Pharisees. We can also say the right things while carrying a very different intention inside. We may ask someone a question when we have already decided that their answer will not change our mind. We may compliment a person because we want something from them. We may appear interested in another person's opinion while waiting for our chance to prove them wrong. Even in prayer, we can ask God for direction while secretly hoping he will confirm the decision we have already made. Jesus sees past all of this. He is not distracted by flattering words, and. He does not allow. Himself to be pushed into the choice. His opponents have prepared for. Him. He recognizes what lies behind their question. Later in this passage, He asks why they are testing. Him, and gives an answer they did not expect. Then we pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.

His response does more than escape their trap. It turns attention back toward something much deeper. They came asking about a coin, and Caesar's claim upon it. Jesus points them toward God's claim upon their lives. That question reaches us too. It is easy to focus on what other people are doing wrong, what they should change, or whether they agree with us. It is much harder to let Jesus turn the question back toward our own heart. Are our words sincere? Are we genuinely seeking the truth, or only an answer that suits us? When we ask God for guidance, are we prepared to follow where. He leads? There are times when we may approach Jesus already holding tightly to our preferred answer.

We pray about a relationship, a decision, a conflict, or something we want. We ask. Him what we should do, yet part of us has already decided what we want. Him to say.

Today's Gospel invites us to approach Jesus differently. We do not need clever words before. Him. We do not need to make our motives look better than they are.

We can simply bring. Him what is actually happening inside us, including the parts we would rather not admit. That honesty matters because Jesus is not trying to trap us or embarrass us. He wants to lead us toward the truth. Sometimes, that truth will confirm what we hope. Sometimes, it will challenge us. Sometimes, it will ask us to change our attitude before anything around us changes.