Political & Doctrinal Questions
July 14, 2022
Commentary
The Lord’s enemies were smarting from the series of parables Jesus had given. They decided to try to trap Him through a series of “loaded” questions (v. 15). The Herodians (v. 16) were a party that favored the dynasty of Herod and stood with Rome. They were non-religious and didn’t get along with the Pharisees. Hoping to trick Jesus into saying something incriminating, they asked, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not” (v. 17)? They thought they had trapped Him. If He opposed the tax He would be in trouble with Rome. If He approved the tax, He would be in trouble with the Jews. But Jesus immediately saw through their hypocrisy and scheme (v. 18). He responded by asking them to bring him a coin (v. 19). He asked whose image was on it and they answered, “Caesar’s” (vv. 20-21). He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” In this simple but profound reply Jesus was saying that Caesar has a right to mint coins, levy taxes and govern, and these things do not infringe on the right of God. The Herodians had no response.
A little later a group of Sadducees came to ask Jesus a doctrinal question about the resurrection (v. 23). These Sadducees were the “religious liberals” of that day. They said there is no resurrection or angels, but they followed the law of Moses firmly. These Sadducees brought up a hypothetical illustration based on the Jewish law concerning “levirate marriage” (Deut. 25:5-10). This dealt with the marrying of a dead brother’s wife to prevent his line from dying out (vv. 24-28). The Question is: “If one woman ended up married to seven brothers, all of whom died in succession before an heir was conceived, whose wife would she be in heaven?” This question was meant to make the resurrection seem ridiculous. But Jesus challenged their knowledge of scripture and of God. Marriage as we know it will not exist in heaven (v. 29-30) and within the 5 books of the bible the Sadducees accepted, the Lord says he “is”, not “was”, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Jacob. The patriarchs are alive in heaven right now, which proves the resurrection.
Application
Just the fact of the resurrection gives me great hope. I do not serve a dead but a living Savior.
Matthew 22:15– 33 (NET)
15 Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 20 Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 21 They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.
23 The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 25 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. 26 The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29 Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 32 ‘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!” 33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.