They Fail To Entrap Jesus

BECAUSE Jesus has been teaching in the temple and has just told his religious enemies three illustrations that expose their wickedness, the Pharisees are angered and take counsel to entrap him into saying something for which they can have him arrested. They concoct a plot and sent their disciples, along with party followers of Herod to try to trip him up. "Teacher," these men say, "we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care for anybody, for you do not look upon men's outward appearance. Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?

Jesus is not fooled by the flattery he realizes that if he says, 'No, it is not lawful or right to pay this tax,' he will be guilty of sedition against Rome. Yet, if he says 'Yes, you should pay this tax,' the Jews, who despise their subjugation to Rome will hate him. So he answers: "Why do you put me to the test, hypocrites? Show me the head tax coin." When they bring him one, he asks: "Whose image and inscription is this?" "Caesar's," they reply. "Pay back, therefore, Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God." Well, when these man hear Jesus' masterful answer, they marvel. And they go off and leave him alone.

Seeing the failure of the Pharisees to get something against Jesus, the Sadducee's, who say there is not resurrection, approach him and ask: "Teacher, Moses said, 'If any man dies without having children, his brother must take his wife in marriage and raise up offspring for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and deceased, and, not having any offspring, he left his wife for his brother. It went the same way also with the second and the third, until through all seven. Last of all the woman died. Consequently, in the resurrection, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all got her."

In reply Jesus says: "Is not this why you are mistaken, you not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, neither do marry nor are women given in marriage, but are as angels in the heavens. But concerning the dead, that they are raised up, did you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the thorn bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob?" He is a God, not of the dead, but of the living. You are much mistaken."

Next time: Conclusion of They Fail To Entrap Jesus

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived,1991