Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-23

ing 10 destroy CnrlSt. His parallels, uttere
to show them their real purpose an
| malignant spirit. has greatly increase
their rage. All factions and parties no,
seem to unite in the effort to make hir
say something which would either enrag
the Romans. or give the Jewish leaders
some hold upon him, as speaking agains
their law.
The two parties associated in thi
attempt, according to Marks account, ar
the Pharasees and Herodians. In the mex
attempt to ensnare him the Sadducees or
also engaged. This is only an example Q
what men are doing everywhere. The,
wrangle and dispute with each other, bu
when their control over their followers
threatened they unite together for tn
common defence. The Herodians wer
hated by the Jewish rulers because the,
supported the rule of the IIerodS and thu
the Roman power, but they are one il
their rejection of Christ, and hence unitet
in plotting his death. They present them
selves to him in all the suavity of consum
mate hypocrites, and with their undisguised
batteries seek to entrap the Master. Theil
Question was a political one; perhaps {
lquestion in dispute between the very par
ties presenting it. Is It lawful to give
tribute to Cesar, or not: Shall we give
or shall we not givep"
The question they asked may have in II
a double meaning. 1t may mean, is il
consistent with Moses law that we should
pay tribute to Cesar, or is it morally ft
ting that Gods chosen people should pay
tribute in support of the pagan Roman
dominion? The latter is probably the
question they meant TO ask. The craft ol
the question lay in the fact that II Jesus
SAID it was lawful he would bring upon
himself the anger of those who had for
long years sought to evade and resist
Roman taxation. Several revclts had
occurred in the east just on this question
If, on the other hand, he should say it was
unlawful, the Herodians were ready to
| carry bis answer to court, and thus he
| would become obnoxious to the Romans.
They doubtless flattered themselves that
a question had at length been framed by
which he would surely be entrapped. So
they used all their flattery and stimulation
in order to secure their purpose more
easily, as they thought. But in moment
Jesus dispelled all their hope by answering
abruptly; Why tempt ye me? Bring me
penny that I may see it. The coin is pro.
duced, (the Roman dewariuS. worth from
10 to IS ctsO and SO upon the diverse it
has the figure of Caesar! Whose is this i'm
age and superscription9 be asks. They
say Caesars. He gave them very adroit
answer. "Render Caesar the things that
are Cnsar's aud to God the things that
are Gods" Some held that he really gave
no answer to their question but simply
said enough to silence them. see no
difficulty however in allowing that Jesus
made them complete answer. lIe oven
gave them a broader answer than they
sought, as he usually did. The admins
tration of government was then in the
hands of the Romans. They bare the ex-
penses of government. 1t was only legiti-
mate for the time being that tribute should
be paid them Whatever Cuar had
done for them demanded return and what
ever God had done also. The principle
is this; taxes for the support of govern.
ment are necessary and just. n govern.
ment is unjust or oppressive that is an
other matter, but the subject is indebted
to the ruler. Jesus passed no judgment
upon the rightfuness of the Roman do.
minion; but as it was the defdcto govern
ment Of the time certain tribute was due
from the Jews who had, in some sort,
protection under it. The answer however
is of so broad and general import that no
advantage could be taken of it to iniure
the Master.
The Pnarisees and Herodians, having
failed in their crafty plan, another sect, tho
Sadducees, came to take up the work.
They are represented as the materialists
of their time. who paid some conventional
regard to the forms of the Jewish religion,
but were far gone in the way of practical
atheism. They bring forward what they
supposed 10 be a difficult question, as ar.
rayed against the doctrine of the resurrec
tion and future life; both of which they
rejected. They refer to provision In the
law, found in Deut. 90; $40, whereby
brother, in order to keep in tact the family
name and the family possessions, is direct
ed to take as wife the widow of deceased
brother. The case is most likely suppos-
ed one, but such one as might actually |
occur. Seven brethren, say they one after |
another, take the same woman to wife. |
In the resurrection whose wife Shall she
beP This question like the foregoing one,
though wickedly designed to injure Jesus,
has been made the means of important |
teaching ever since. No single passage
gives us clearer light on the mode of |
mans immortality. The question betray-
ed at once the gross views of those who
put it. As they did not believe in spirit.
ual nature In man they found no place
for spiritual idea of the resurrection.
In their notion, if there was any after
life it must be life under the same limits.
tions, and on the same plan as our present
life. This view Christ declares TO be a
mistaken one: "Ye do err" be says. The
difficulty with them was, and it is a stand
ing one to day on many points, they did
not know the scriptures. and they had no
adequate conception of the power of God
They supposed that Gods power was lin
tied by their power Of thought, and had
not faith 10 believe tn at he could do what
was beyond their thought. They failed
to apprehend the meaning of scripture,
which hold that man has: spiritual as
we'll as phsical life.