The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-09-05
Sunday-schoo1.
JESUS sILENcEs THE PHAR1sEEs AND


SADDUCEES
sept. 10, 1900. Mark xii 1927
GOLDEN TEXT.
" Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars
and unto God the things that are Gods"
Mark Xii. II.
HOME READINGS
M.-Mark XII liz. Th.-Mark xii. 49, a.
MARX XII 1927. Fl Peter ii. lily.
W-Luke 1898. S.-Romans xiii 49,
81 Cor. 1920.
In the parable of the wicked husbandmen,
spoken just before the lesson of to-day, Jesus
had made a picture of the priests and scribes of
the Jewish church. great trust had been given
to them, and they had failed to bring the fruits
unto God; had slain his servants the prophets,
and rejected the Son and heir. The teaching was
severe and it unmistakable in its reference.
Instead of repentance they hardened their hearts.
They sought to Stay him, but were afraid of the
people, who at this time Jesus side. The
lesson is in two parts-our Lords dealing first
with the Pharisee and then with the Saducees.
The Pharsees old sect, large and in
huential in the days of Christ, deriving their
from the Hebrew "parueh,' separated,
claiming superior sanctity. They proud,
exclusive, self-rghteous; and censorious en-
vious of Jesus, corrupt of heart and bitter in
their enmity. They represented the spirit of the
Jewish people toward Jesus of Nazareth
The Sadducees, a sect named either from
"Tedek," righteousness, from Tadok, once
president of the Sanhedrin They the oppo-
site of the Pharsees, rejecting all scripture, ira
dition and custom, since Moses, sceptica to the
supernatural, denying Immortality and the res
surrection, self-indugent, luxurious materalists.
The Herodians political faction, sup
porters of the Herodan kings. Like the Herods,
they semi-heathen and barbarity and lcen-
tiousness while conforming outwardly to Jewish
observance They were sceptical immoral and
dangerous leaven among the Jews, against whom
4. FL
I. The Things That Caesars, 1917.
delegation of the Pharisees and the Herodans
came to Jesus, to catch him in his words, or
"that they might catch him in words" The pur-
pose was to entrap him in something that could
be made the ground of a charge of treason against
the Roman government They came with lattering
words, Master, we know that thou art true etc.
An effort to deceive him into believing that they
were on his side. Under cover of this they asked,
" Is it lawful that, and for Jew to give tribute
to Caesar or not?" Should loyal Israelite pay
taxes for the support of the Roman government?
IF as Jew he said mo-" they would at de-
nounce him to the authorities enemy of the
Roman authority. But he not to be caught.
Asking for penny, the Roman "lenarus, he
inquired whose image and superscripton it was?
When they said Caesars" he replied, Render
unto Caesar the things that Caesars" You
accept and use Caesars money you must ac
knowledge your responsibility to Caesar. If you
Caesars money you must pay Caesar toll
An adrot and complete answer to their treacher
Gus delegates The words of Jesus contain
teaching for all time. There are things due to
human governments. 1t is Gods ordinance that
we should obey law, pay taxes, give respect to
the magistrate and "honor the king" There
things also that belong to God. Let not that be
forgotten In him we live and move and have
our being" Unto him belong all that and
have. With our submission Of will, trust, Our
live and service. The delegation WHOLLY
silenced "They marveled at him"
l. The Resurrection of the Dead VS.. 1920. Now
come Of the Sadducees, who also wish to
entrap him, ito catch him in words" They spoke
of the law given by Moses that the widow with
out child should become the wife Of her husbands