Chief priests, elders, Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, lawyer’s insidious questions (Matthew 22:15-46) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Chief priests, elders, Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, lawyer’s insidious questions (Matthew 22:15-46) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce      Christian Arts Ministries

 In answer to the Herodians- tax issue- give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matt.22:15-22)

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher” they said, “We know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right pay taxes to Caesar or not? But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “ You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”  “ Caesar’s” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (22:15-21)

Insight and understanding

 The Herodians were those who took sides with King Herod’s regime and took part with him in infiltrating Grecian and Roman manners of life into Jewish culture. They sided with the Sadducees but were opposed to the Pharisees. But here they united with the Pharisees to ensnare the Lord Jesus. Verse 17 this was truly an ensnaring question, Giving tribute to Caesar was opposed by all the Jews. If the Lord Jesus had said that it was lawful to do this, He would have offended all the Jews, whose leaders were the Pharisees. If He had said that it was not lawful, the Herodians, who stood with the Roman government, would have  had strong ground to accuse Him. Verse 19 the Lord Jesus did not show the Roman coin but asked them to show one to Him. Since they possessed one of the Roman coins, they were caught. Verse 21 this is to pay tribute to Caesar according to his governmental regulations. This is to pay the half – shekel to God according to Exo.30:11-16, and to offer all the tithes to God according to the law of God.

 

 In answer the Sadducees - At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage, they will be like the angels in heaven. Matthew 22:23-33

That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her? (vv.23-28)

Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage, they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead- have you not read what God said to you, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (vv.29-32) when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (v.33)

Insight and understanding

     Verse 29  Knowing the Scriptures is one thing; knowing the power of God is another. We need to know both. The Scrptures here refer to the Old Testament verses that concern the matter of resurrection, and the power of God refers to the power of  resurrection. Verse 32 as God is the God of the living and is called “the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob,” so the dead Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be resurrected. This is the way the Lord Jesus expounded the Scriptures –not only according to the letter but also according to the life and power implied within them. Verse 35 One who was knowledgeable in the law of Moses, a professional interpreter of the law of the Old Testament. Verse 40 both commandments, the commandment to love God and the commandment to love man, are a matter of love. Love is the spirit of God’s commandments. 

 

In answer to the Pharisees-the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself. “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (vv.34-40)    

 In questioning the Pharisees – Son of David, yet David calls him “Lord” Matthew22:41-46

            While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “ How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him “Lord”? for he said, “ The Lord said to my Lord: “ sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” If then David calls him “Lord” how can he be his son? No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on one dared to ask him any more questions.

In sight and understanding

 Verse 40 As portrayed in 21:23-22:46, during His last visit to Jerusalem, the center of Judaism, Christ was surrounded by the chief priests, elders, Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees, along with a lawyer, all of whom endeavored to ensnare Him by asking puzzling and insidious questions.

 First, the chief priests, representing the authority of the Jewish religion, and the elders, representing the authority of the Jewish people, asked Him concerning His authority (21:23). Their question was according to their religious concept.

 Second, the Pharisees, the fundamentalists, and the Herodians, who were zealous in politics, asked Him a question related to politics.

Third, the Sadducees, the modernists, questioned Him concerning fundamental belief.

 Fourth, a self-approved lawyer asked Him question concerning the law.

 After answering all their questions wisely, He asked them a question concerning the Christ. This is the question of questions. Their questions were related to religion, politics, belief, and the law, but Jesus’ question was concerning the CHRIST, who is the center of all things. They knew religion, politics, belief, and the law, but they paid no attention to Christ. Hence, He asked them, “What do you think concerning the Christ?” This question of questions must be answered by everyone. Verse 43 Christ can be known by us only in our spirit through God’s revelation (Eph.3:5). Verse 45 Christ is God; in His divinity He is the Lord of David. He is also a man; in His humanity He is the son of David. The Pharisees had only half the scriptural knowledge concerning Christ’s person, i.e., that He was the son of David according to His humanity. They did not have the other half, i.e., that He was the Son of God according to His divinity. Verse 46 Chist’s question of questions concerning His wonderful person muzzled the mouths of all His opposers.