The Pharisees and Sadducees were political enemies but they joined forces in an attempt to trap Jesus in his words. They began with flattery essentually saying "we know you speak the truth regardless of who is listening." Then they presented him with a question that they had calculated to place him between a rock and a hard place. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
They rationalized if Jesus advocated not paying taxes he could legitimately be arrested for insurrection. On the other hand, they reasoned, if he said to pay taxes he would be supporting a corrupt government. It was a win, win question for them, but a lose, lose for him.
But Jesus answered, “Give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God” (Mt 22:15-21). Now they were in a catch 22. To even attempt to argue any further would place them in direct conflict with Caesar or God. They “left with their tails between their legs.”
When you sense someone is attempting to trap you, silently pray for wisdom and God will give you the words you need to silence your enemies, or give you strength to withstand their persecution (Lk 12:11-12).
