It is certainly a strange combination which heads this meditation. Pharisees and Herodians do not go together. The two parties are essentially different from each other, archenemies even. The one party rivals the other, and normally they would not be on speaking terms. Yet here they are holding counsel together!

The Pharisees formed the very strict party of the Law in Judea. They rejected and despised all Roman rule and authority, and yet they cooperated with the Romans in order to preserve their own position among Israel. The politics of the powerless! Still, the Pharisees saw the cooperation with the Romans as being only a temporary thing; for the Pharisees had a very strong expectation concerning the Messiah-King who would save Israel from all its enemies and restore the Kingdom of David (cf. Mark 12:35-37). The Pharisees know exactly where this Messiah will be born (Matthew 2:6) because many of the Scribes were members of the Pharisee party. So we have a party that is directed fully to the coming of the Messiah! The great King is coming ...

The Herodians also sought the good of Israel. But their hope is based completely on the house of Herod, the Edomite. After all, the house of Herod had converted to the Jewish faith, was related to Israel, and was to be preferred above the hated Romans! Had Herod the Great not seen to it that not all parts of the Holy Land had come under direct Roman occupation? Herod had ensured some measure of self-rule. So the Herodians were dedicated to keeping Herod and sons on the Throne. The Herodian Party was an influential one, containing many Sadducees and scribes. The party of the Pharisees was much smaller.

The Pharisees formed a fanatical, anti-Roman, anti-Herodian Party, and would not accept any compromise. They preached the coming of the King and were interested in signs pointing to this coming. That is why many Pharisees went to see John the Baptist! But the Herodians do not believe such things. They have their King already. They are satisfied with the status quo, and would like to see it maintained.

Totally different parties. Therefore it is at first a bit strange to read, "And the Pharisees … held counsel … with the Herodians …" Generally they do not give each the time of day, but now they must meet together and discuss matters of mutual importance.

The question is: why? These two parties have suddenly found some unity because they have discovered a common enemy! They bury the hatchet in order first to deal together with another problem. Arch-enemies suddenly become allies. Strange bedfellows, but bedfellows nonetheless.

Their mutual enemy is Jesus Christ. The Pharisees from Jerusalem have heard of Jesus and have "investigated Him." But Jesus does not show them any messianic qualities or potential. On the contrary, the Pharisees discover that Jesus goes against their teaching, and that His lifestyle is terrible: he blasphemes God and eats with sinners and desecrates the Sabbath! This Jesus may incite the multitudes to riot and force the Romans to send in more troops. The Pharisees see their peace and position disturbed, and they conclude: this Jesus has got to go.

The Herodians, too, also see danger in Jesus. If there is a revolution in Northern Palestine (Galilee) the Roman troops may come to the non-occupied territories and force Herod Antipas from his throne. They, too, want peace to remain. Therefore, the Herodians will have agreed: this Jesus must go. And the Pharisees will have pressed the point: you, Herodians, must do something to stop this Jesus. For after all, the Lord was still in the area governed by Herod. The Herodians must secure Herod's permission and aid to destroy Jesus. So they are conspiring together against the Lord.

It is interesting that Mark does not tell us anything about the result of this counsel. Most likely they could not come to an agreement. Perhaps they could not agree on the exact charge to be brought in against the Lord. Or they were afraid that the multitudes would riot if Jesus were arrested. While Herod, the fox, would rather wait for a more opportune moment.

But the devastating point is: our Lord is condemned and rejected already at the very beginning of His ministry by the MAJOR PARTIES as being not useful! The Pharisees want a Messiah-after-their-own taste. The Herodians already have a Messiah, and don't need another. They all have their ideals and plans in Israel, but Jesus does not fit in any of them. For the realization of their own plans the one party sometimes uses the other, but they have no need of Christ. He stands in their way, and must be removed. A negative alliance for an evil purpose.

We understand, then, how rich we are when we hear the full proclamation of the complete Word of God. Then we do not have wrong expectations regarding the Messiah. Then we do not seek unchristian compromise and unholy alliance, for the Word creates positive communion! We do not gather because of a mutual enemy, but we gather under one Lord and Saviour. In that communion we do not use one another for our own purposes, but we strive to seek the glory of God and the up building of our neighbour. This communion is not for one moment or for one single project, this communion is a matter of our whole life.

And they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to entrap Him in His talk …Mark 12:13-17

Last time we saw how already at the very beginning of Christ's ministry in Galilee these two totally different parties, the Herodians and the Pharisees, joined forces with a common purpose: to destroy Jesus of Nazareth. In the meantime, we have come a lot further. Christ is now in Jerusalem, teaching in the temple. Christ has become known in Israel because of His many signs and miracles. His authoritative preaching has made a great impression on the multitudes. What the Jewish leaders feared in Galilee has become reality: Jesus has become a great danger for their position as leaders of the people. Their resolve has grown that Jesus must be destroyed. The Jewish leaders have also come to the conclusion that Jesus can only be caught by means of entrapment, not by outright arrest, "for they feared the multitude" (Mark 12:12).

While Christ is teaching in the temple, the rulers conspire all kinds of evil against Him. They send the one group after the other to Him, to see if they can trap Him and make Him incriminate Himself. Remarkably, the first to be sent to Him is a coalition of Pharisees and Herodians, two rival parties, with an equally remarkable question, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Mark 12:14).

We should know that with this tax is meant the per capita tax which the Roman governor had forced upon the people. Every Jew was required to pay this tax to the Roman authorities. And the Jews were very sensitive on this point; they resented this tax, because it was for them symbolic of their complete submission to Rome. Some time before a certain Galilean, called Judas, had revolted because of this very same tax. Would Jesus deny His Galilean background by perhaps suggesting that the tax ought to be paid?

The question is why these two parties were sent to Jesus specifically with this point of the tax. Well, this can only be part of the evil tactics which are being followed. For these two parties took a totally different viewpoint on this tax. They come together because they deeply differ in this matter; it is, again, a negative coalition.

The Pharisees wanted to get rid of this tax as soon as possible. They wanted nothing less than the restoration of the free kingdom of Israel under the coming Messiah-King. So they were not prepared to accept any taxation from the side of the oppressors. The Pharisees on this point shared the opinion of the multitudes, although they were unable to change the situation. Everyone knew: the Pharisees reject this tax!

The Herodians took a somewhat different view. They were prepared to recognize the right of Rome in the hope that through the house of Herod there might still be some self-government. Any revolt against the Roman taxation system might mean a bloody end to the reign of Herod. Their advice was to pay the tax and so avoid tensions with Rome. It should be noted that many of the ruling class and the Jewish nobility shared this viewpoint.

Do you see how the "entrapment" is intended? If Christ says that it is not allowed to pay the tax, the Herodians have reason to report Him to the governor as a rebel who is inciting the people to riot. If Christ says that the tax should be paid, the Pharisees can triumphantly expose Him to the people as a traitor to the Jewish cause! The question was asked publicly in the temple, and either way, Christ indeed seems trapped. In his campaign against Christ, Satan manages to bring rival parties together. And Christ is maneuvered into a very difficult position.

Our Lord understands the seriousness of His position. But He reacts with calm composure, "Bring me a coin …" On this coin the image of the emperor was imprinted. And He asks, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They have to answer, "Caesar's." Then comes the magnificent answer, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's …" The Jews (also the Pharisees) had in fact accepted the rule of Caesar and of Rome. The economy was directed towards Rome; Roman coins were the common method of payment also in Israel. The Jews shared in the wealth of Rome. They enjoyed the peace, prosperity and safety of the imperial realm. Well then, they should also share in the cost of this wealth. Give unto Caesar what belongs to him! He printed the money; he may demand a part of it back!

But Christ immediately adds, "… render … to God the things that are God's." In these words there is an appeal: recognize Me as the Messiah sent by God! The Jews have in fact accepted the government of Caesar whose influence touches their whole (economic) life. But they reject the Christ who comes in love to His people.

Render unto God. The ultimate question is not whether one is for or against the emperor, but whether one is for or against the Christ. Israel does not stand or fall with Tiberius or Herod, but with God and His Anointed. The emperor has put his inscription on those coins; he can have them back. But God has put HIS STAMP on Israel as His chosen covenant people. And God wishes to receive His people as a living sacrifice of gratitude.

The Herodians and Pharisees wish to entrap the Lord Jesus. But they hear the preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven. They want to force Him to make a choice in their evil dilemma, but He forces them to choose. Mark adds these words, "And they were amazed at Him."

Israel is sorely divided. They cannot agree about issues such as paying the taxes. All kinds of short-lived, strange alliances come and go. But Israel's great King shows the way of true and lasting unity: render to God the things that are God's. In one communal service, accepting the one Mediator of God lies the unity and future of Israel.

There should be no false dilemma between state and church. It is not a matter of preferring Herod above Augustus. It is for or against Christ. That is even more true today. We must meet our civil obligations. But above all we must give ourselves fully to the Lord in His service. Give God His worth.