`He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye Me?'

(Luke 20:23).

Here is the first occurrence of the word, and the context should be

studied as a warning and a lesson.  Notice how the craftiness is veiled:

`And they watched Him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves

just men, that they might take hold of His words, that so they might

deliver Him unto the power and authority of the Governor ... Master, we

know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest Thou the

person of any, but teachest the way of God truly.  Is it lawful for us to

give tribute unto Caesar, or no?' (Luke 20:20-22).

It was a deeply laid plot.  The way in which they had been caught on the

horns of a dilemma in the matter of John the Baptist rankled, and at last the

Chief Priests and Scribes thought to use His own weapon against the Lord

Himself.  They would make Him impale Himself upon the horns of a dilemma, for

see, if He said `yes', His reputation as a leader and deliverer, to say nothing

of His claim to be the Messiah, would be shattered, for how could the Deliverer

of Israel teach them to pay tribute to a pagan power?  If He should say `no',

they would immediately charge Him before the Roman Governor as a stirrer up of

sedition.  They evidently expected `no' for an answer, for they sent the spies

`that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor'.

They reckoned, however, without the Lord.  He takes the wise in their own

craftiness.  What was His reply?:

`Shew Me a penny.  Whose image and superscription hath it? ... Render

therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the

things which be God's.  And they could not take hold of His words before

the people: and they marvelled at His answer, and held their peace' (Luke

We must be on our guard against those who feign themselves `just men', who

profess to agree with the Word of truth, who flatter us that we are not partial

or hold men's persons in respect?  The parallels and the contrast to

`craftiness' are given in 2 Corinthians 4:2:

`We ... have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in

craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation

of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight

of God'.