Passion Week Through Jewish Eyes: The Testing Of The Lamb Of God: Pharisees And Herodians

A second confrontation was from the Pharisees and the Herodians…

This confrontation was a question of POLITICS.

You have to realize that the Pharisees and the Herodians are at opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Herodians (Jews who) supported Roman rule through the Herodian dynasty.

Pharisees did not; They hated Roman rule and the Herodian influence.

These two groups had no common ground. The fact that they would join forces to trap Yeshua tells us something of how seriously both groups viewed Him as a threat.

They hated Him and His claims to be the Messiah. So they joined forces.

The Pharisees attacked His Messiahship because He did not comport with who/what they expected the Messiah to be.

The Herodians opposed Him because, by claiming to be the Messiah, He was a political threat to Caesar and the House of Herod, just like John the Baptist.

So these two groups send a contingent to Yeshua and ask the question, “…is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

According to the Pharisees:

Paying taxes to Caesar was acknowledging him as king. They didn’t want to do that because that meant God WASN’T King.

Paying taxes to Rome was to recognize Rome’s rule over Israel. This was true especially of the Zealot Party (of Pharisees).

If Yeshua answered, “Yes, it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar” -- it would have angered the people and He would have lost all credibility with the masses who just proclaimed Him to be the Messiah that day He rode into Jerusalem.

THE PHARISEES WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THAT SINCE YESHUA DIDN’T FIT THEIR PERCEPTION OF WHO THE MESSIAH WAS TO BE.

But, if Yeshua answered, “No, do not pay taxes to Caesar” -- then Yeshua could be charged with rebellion against Rome.

THE HERODIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THAT SINCE THE PURPOSE FOR THEIR QUESTION WAS TO SHOW HIM TO BE A POLITICAL THREAT TO ROME.

Yeshua knew they were trying to set Him up so He said to them, “Show me the coin used for a poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Notice: Yeshua didn’t ask for a Jewish shekel, He asked for a Roman denarius.

The denarius of Yeshua’s day was minted by Tiberius Caesar. One side had an image of his face; the other side was of him sitting on his throne in priestly robes. The Pharisees would not carry a coin with the image of a man on it because that would have been considered idolatry. Which made the tax and these coins doubly offensive.

So they brought him the denarius -- And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”

The only answer they could give was “Caesar’s.” Since that’s whose image was on it, the coin was totally useless to the Jews for Temple use or personal use. The only thing they could do with it was return it to Caesar – and that’s what they used it for – to pay taxes.

So Yeshua said, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

In stating that, Yeshua is making a division between Divine authority which comes from God; and delegated authority that comes from Caesar. (Religion and state.)

Important Point: Paying taxes to Caesar doesn’t nullify God’s rule; it simply recognizes God’s delegated rule through this government. This is not new information. The OT taught that human governments have delegated authority from God.

Ultimately, Yeshua will replace Caesar and every other king, and that will bring to an end the Times of the Gentiles. And answer the Q: “Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Luke gives us the best comment on how this ended (20:26): “And they were not unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.” (Held their peace. No answer. No more Q’s.)

SO, this attempt by the Pharisees and the Herodians to trap Yeshua and discredit Him also ended in failure.