Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

¹Wherefore the Pharisees having found out this devise, thought thus with themselves: Well, we have the matter now at a good stay. The Romans challenge to themselves the government, now if he answer unto the question that tribute is not to be given, the lieutenant is at hand and ready to put him to death: if he answer that it must be given, he shall stir up the people against himself, and so we shall assuredly by this means entrap him: thus they supposed that either they should find cause of death in the Lord, or at the least make his doctrine to be nothing set by of the people. As the Jews here do, so also do we, the chief and necessary things being left, we are occupied about other matters not necessary. The Pharisees here move a question, whether they be free or otherwise: forasmuch as they had the Law and the word of God, they supposed that they ought to be subject to none, but to their own King, yet they were now compelled to obey Cesar Emperor of Rome. They had Scripture concerning the love of God and their neighbour, but that being left, they are occupied about other matters. It was promised unto them, if they obeyed the precepts and commandments of God, that they should then be a free people, they disobey and neglect Gods commandments, and yet notwithstanding they will be free, and have their own king. In like manner falleth it out with us, we earnestly challenge to our selves Christian liberty, and yet we think, that if we do those things that seem good in our own brain and fantasy, we are thereby Christians, both faith and charity being of us neglected. But what doth Christ, the Pharisees so subtly setting upon him? he striketh them with their own sword, and entrappeth them in their own devise, whereby they thought to have entrapped him, answering neither of those things which they hoped he would, as the Evangelist doth more at large describe, saying:

¹Wherefore the Pharisees hauing foūd out this deuise, thought thus with themselues: Well, we haue the matter now at a good stay. The Romanes chalenge to themselues the gouernmēt, now if he aunswere vnto the question that tribute is not to be giuen, the lieftenant is at hand and ready to put him to death: if he aunswere that it must be giuen, he shall stirre vp the people against himselfe, and so we shall assuredly by this meanes entrappe him: thus they supposed that either they should fynde cause of death in the Lord, or at the least make his doctrine to be nothing set by of the people. As the Iewes here do, so also do we, the chiefe and necessarie thinges being left, we are occupied about other matters not necessarie. The Pharisees here moue a question, whether they be free or otherwise: forasmuch as they had the Lawe and the word of God, they supposed that they ought to be subiect to none, but to their owne Kinge, yet they were now compelled to obey Cesar Emperour of Rome. They had Scripture concerning the loue of God and their neighbour, but that being left, they are occupied about other matters. It was promised vnto them, if they obeyed the precepts and commaundements of God, that they should then be a free people, they disobey and neglect Gods commaundements, and yet notwithstanding they wil be free, and haue their owne king. In like maner falleth it out with vs, we earnestly chalenge to our selues Christian liberty, and yet we thinke, that if we doe those thinges that seeme good in our owne braine and fantasie, we are thereby Christians, both faith and charitie being of vs neglected. But what doth Christ, the Pharisees so subtilly setting vpon him? he striketh them with their owne sword, and entrappeth them in their owne deuise, whereby they thought to haue entrapped him, aunswering neither of those thinges which they hoped he would, as the Euangelist doth more at large describe, saying: