Certain of the Pharisees and the Herodians had gone to see Jesus -- to catch Him in His words. Their question -- "is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But Jesus knowing their hypocrisy said unto them, "Why tempt ye Me? Bring Me a penny, that I may see [it]." (Mark 12:14-17)
Indeed, Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? Shew Me the tribute money." And they brought unto Him a penny. And He saith unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" They say unto Him, "Cæsar’s" ... then saith Jesus unto them, "Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s." When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:12; Romans 13:7; Matthew 17:25)
Remember, in those days that Jesus was born, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. (Luke 2:1-7) But I digress.
But the day was not finished yet. We see that on the same day came to Jesus the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked Him, saying, "Master, Moses said -- If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now 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? for they all had her. "
Again, the authorities of that day trying to trick Jesus and catch Him in His words. But what did Jesus say? Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:23-32; Exodus 3:6; Acts 7:32; Matthew 21:16; Matthew 18:10; Psalm 103:20; John 20:9; Acts 4:1; Matthew 3:7)
And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His doctrine. We see later in the scriptures that these same priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were not happy when the people came to hear about Jesus and the resurrection from the dead, because many of them which heard the Word believed. (Acts 4:1-4)
Continuing, we see that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence. As a consequence, the Pharisees gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Jesus a question, tempting Him, and saying, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:33-40; Luke 7:30; Luke 14:3; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Luke 10:27; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 19:18)
Remember, the rich young ruler asking Jesus, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16-19)
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this -- thous shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Galatians 5:14)
Returning to Matthew's account, we once again see the Pharisees gathered together. Jesus asks them, saying, "What think ye of Christ? whose Son is He?" They say unto Him, "The Son of David." He saith unto them, "How then doth David in Spirit call Him Lord, saying, "The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He His Son?"
And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions. (Matthew 22:15-46) Indeed, as the scriptures saith, "For Thy Word is truth!" (John 17:17)
In closing, Paul gives us some good counsel, writing that as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially. unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10; John 12:35; Ephesians 2:19)
Stand in the offering plate.
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