Men came to Jesus to ask Him if it were right to pay tax, or tribute, money. They did not care to know for themselves, but they wanted to cause Jesus to speak against the rulers who taxed them, so they could accuse Him, and have Him punished.
At that time the Roman nation ruled over Palestine, and Caesar was the name of the emperor. One of the rulers under him was Herod, and because these men favored him, they were called “Herodians.”
Jesus knew the men wanted to cause Him harm, and this was His wise, true answer: first He said, “Show me the tribute money.”
The men showed Jesus a coin, and He asked them whose words and image, or likeness; were engraved on the coin. They said, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus told them, “Render (pay) therefore unto Caesar, the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The tax money belonged to the ruling nations, and must be paid, but God was greater than all rulers, and they did not give Him obedience or praise. The men knew Jesus answered truly, and that they did not give God honor, and they went away. If they had taken Jesus for their King, He would have freed them from other nations.
There were men, called Sadducees, who slid not believe the dead would be raised to life, and they came to question Jesus. He told them that if they knew the scriures, and believed God’s power, they would know He would raise the dead. He spoke of God’s words about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had believed God, but had died long before, that God called them “living”, saying He was “their God, the God of the living.” This showed that the men had a spirit which lived after the body died. But the men did not believe they had a spirit. They could not answer Jesus since He had shown them to be ignorant of the scriptures of their people (see Acts 23:88For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (Acts 23:8)).
Jesus told of resurrection: (John 5:28,2928Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29); John 11:23-2523Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:23‑25); read Acts 24:14,1514But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:14‑15)).
Next, the men, called Pharisees, came to Jesus. These men regarded the laws given their nation on Mt. Sinai more than they did God who gave them, yet they did not keep those laws, and were unfair to the people. They asked Jesus which law was the greatest.
Jesus’ answer showed that God’s laws were together; if they kept the first law, to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, they would love His children, and do them no wrong. Jesus told them that the prophets had taught the same. The men knew they did not love God with all their heart, nor love their neighbors as themselves.
Jesus then asked them a question, how the Messiah (the Christ) could be both David’s Son and David’s Lord. They could not answer, and after that did not dare come to ask Him any more questions, for His wise answers showed them to be wrong. They did not believe God’s Word.
ML 09/12/1943