Matthew 22:15 — ExegesisTAB

The Greek narrative opens with tote {Τότε | Tóte} “then,” establishing chronological continuity with the preceding interaction. The aorist participle poreuthentes {πορευθέντες | poreuthéntes} “having gone” functions adverbially, signaling an action that precedes the main finite verb. The article–noun unit hoi Pharisaioi {οἱ Φαρισαῖοι | hoí Pharisaîoi} presents the Pharisees as a specific, recognizable group within the story world. The clause symboulion elabon {συμβούλιον ἔλαβον | symboúlion élabon} forms the main assertion, where the object “counsel/plan” with the verb “took” idiomatically denotes holding a deliberative meeting or forming a strategy. The purpose clause is introduced by hopos {ὅπως | hópōs} “in order that,” followed by the aorist subjunctive pagideusōsin {παγιδεύσωσιν | pagideúsōsin}, which expresses intended outcome rather than accomplished fact. The direct object auton {αὐτὸν | autón} “him” refers contextually to Jesus and is the focal target of the scheming. The prepositional phrase en logō {ἐν λόγῳ | en lógō} “in speech” narrows the means of attack to His verbal statements rather than physical action. In translation, the participial construction is smoothed into a coordinated sequence (“went and took counsel” / “went out and made a plan”) to preserve narrative flow, while the hopos-clause is rendered with “in order that” and “to” to convey purpose and hostile intent clearly.