Having heard the Lord’s parables, the Pharisees felt the power of His word cutting beneath their hypocrisy and pretentious ways. Accordingly they band together with the Herodians, with whom they normally would have no dealings. The Herodians were those who took part with Herod and his successors in bringing in among the Jews the manners and corruptions of the Romans and Greeks. As such they were opposed to the Pharisees who were the strict champions of the law. However, they unite in opposing Jesus, seeking how they might entangle Him in His talk. Following flattering words they ask the Lord, “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” They thought that as a loyal Jew He would speak against it and so get Himself in trouble with the authorities. But the Lord sees through their wickedness and with marvelous wisdom answers their questions and silences His adversaries. He says, “Show me the tribute money.” And they brought to Him a penny, which carried the image they owned to be Caesar’s. However, neither the Pharisees nor the Herodians felt the sin and disobedience to God which had brought them under the yoke of Rome. The Lord tells them, “ Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” They were unable to stand before such searching words, and so they go their ways.
Sadducees
Next, there came to Him the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. They put to Him what they think is an unanswerable question. “Master . . . there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven?” The Lord again in admirable wisdom proves to their own shame that their difficulties sprang from overlooking the power of God and from their not knowing their own Scriptures. For long after the death of the patriarchs Moses had spoken of Jehovah as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He therefore was not the God of the dead but of the living, for they were still alive before Him. When those around had heard His teaching, they were astonished at His words.
Pharisees
“But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.” One of them, a lawyer, tempting Him, put to Him the question, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” In His answer the Lord sets forth that man’s first responsibility is toward God: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God”; then his responsibility to his fellowman: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” The Lord Jesus was the perfect expression of this — and much more.
After this the Lord asks them a question about the Messiah. “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?” They answer, “The son of David.” Then He asks them further, if the Messiah is David’s son, how can David speak of Him in Psalm 110:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1), calling Him his Lord. How was He both? But they could not answer Him because they refused to own the Messiah as a divine person. He must be divine to unite both in one blessed Person. He was the Root and the offspring of David (Rev. 22:1616I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)).
Further Meditation
1. How did the Herodians try to trap the Lord?
2. Where else in the gospels does the Lord cause amazement at His wise answers?
3. Manners and Customs of the Bible by J. M. Freeman gives an excellent background to Bible times and would help in the understanding of the Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees.