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risees did know that Christ said and taught rightly； and by their own testimony will they be judged。
Those who put the question to Jesus thought that they had sufficiently disguised their purpose； but Jesus read their hearts as an open book； and sounded their hypocrisy。 〃Why tempt ye Me？〃 He said； thus giving them a sign they had not asked； by showing that He read their hidden purpose。 They were still more confused when He added； 〃Show Me a penny。〃 They brought it； and He asked them； 〃Whose image and superscription hath it？ They answered and said； Caesar's。〃 Pointing to the inscription on the coin； Jesus said； 〃Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's； and unto God the things that are God's。〃
The spies had expected Jesus to answer their question directly； in one way or the other。 If He should say； It is unlawful to give tribute to Caesar； He would be reported to the Roman authorities and arrested for inciting rebellion。 But in case He should pronounce it lawful to pay the tribute； they designed to accuse Him to the people as opposing the law of God。 Now they felt themselves baffled and defeated。 Their plans were disarranged。 The summary manner in which their question had been settled left them nothing further to say。
Christ's reply was no evasion； but a candid answer to the question。 Holding in His hand the Roman coin； upon which were stamped the name and image of Caesar； He declared that since they were living under the protection of the Roman power； they should render to that power the support it claimed； so long as this did not conflict with a higher duty。 But while peaceably subject to the laws of the land； they should at all times give their first allegiance to God。
The Saviour's words； 〃Render 。 。 。 unto God the things that are God's；〃 were a severe rebuke to the intriguing Jews。 Had they faithfully fulfilled their obligations to God； they would not have become a broken nation； subject to a foreign power。 No Roman ensign would have waved over Jerusalem； no Roman sentinel would have stood at her gates； no Roman governor would have ruled within her walls。 The Jewish nation was then paying the penalty of its apostasy from God。
When the Pharisees heard Christ's answer； 〃they marveled； and left Him； and went their way。〃 He had rebuked their hypocrisy and presumption；
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and in doing this He had stated a great principle； a principle that clearly defines the limits of man's duty to the civil government and his duty to God。 In many minds a vexed question had been settled。 Ever after they held to the right principle。 And although many went away dissatisfied； they saw that the principle underlying the question had been clearly set forth； and they marveled at Christ's far…seeing discernment。
No sooner were the Pharisees silenced than the Sadducees came forward with their artful questions。 The two parties stood in bitter opposition to each other。 The Pharisees were rigid adherents to tradition。 They were exact in outward ceremonies； diligent in washings； fastings； and long prayers； and ostentatious in almsgiving。 But Christ declared that they made void the law of God by teaching for doctrines the commandments of men。 As a class they were bigoted and hypocritical； yet among them were persons of genuine piety； who accepted Christ's teachings and became His disciples。 The Sadducees rejected the traditions of the Pharisees。 They professed to believe the greater portion of the Scriptures； and to regard them as the rule of action； but practically they were skeptics and materialists。
The Sadducees denied the existence of angels； the resurrection of the dead； and the doctrine of a future life； with its rewards and punishments。 On all these points they differed with the Pharisees。 Between the two parties the resurrection was especially a subject of controversy。 The Pharisees had been firm believers in the resurrection； but in these discussions
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their views in regard to the future state became confused。 Death became to them an inexplicable mystery。 Their inability to meet the arguments of the Sadducees gave rise to continual irritation。 The discussions between the two parties usually resulted in angry disputes； leaving them farther apart than before。
In numbers the Sadducees fell far below their opponents； and they had not so strong a hold upon the common people； but many of them were wealthy； and they had the influence which wealth imparts。 In their ranks were included most of the priests； and from among them the high priest was usually chosen。 This was； however； with the express stipulation that their skeptical opinions should not be made prominent。 On account of the numbers and popularity of the Pharisees； it was necessary for the Sadducees to concede outwardly to their doctrines when holding any priestly office； but the very fact that they were eligible to such office gave influence to their errors。
The Sadducees rejected the teaching of Jesus； He was animated by a spirit which they would not acknowledge as manifesting itself thus； and His teaching in regard to God and the future life contradicted their theories。 They believed in God as the only being superior to man； but they argued that an overruling providence and a divine foresight would deprive man of free moral agency； and degrade him to the position of a slave。 It was their belief； that； having created man； God had left him to himself； independent of a higher influence。 They held that man was free to control his own life and to shape the events of the world； that his destiny was in his own hands。 They denied that the Spirit of God works through human efforts or natural means。 Yet they still held that； through the proper employment of his natural powers； man could become elevated and enlightened； that by rigorous and austere exactions his life could be purified。
Their ideas of God molded their own character。 As in their view He had no interest in man； so they had little regard for one another； there was little union among them。 Refusing to acknowledge the influence of the Holy Spirit upon human action； they lacked His power in their lives。 Like the rest of the Jews； they boasted much of their birthright as children of Abraham； and of their strict adherence to the requirements of the law； but of the true spirit of the law and the faith and benevolence of Abraham； they were destitute。 Their natural sympathies were brought within a narrow compass。 They believed it possible for all men to secure
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the comforts and blessings of life； and their hearts were not touched by the wants and sufferings of others。 They lived for themselves。
By His words and His works； Christ testified to a divine power that produces supernatural results； to a future life beyond the present； to God as a Father of the children of men； ever watchful of their true interests。 He revealed the working of divine power in benevolence and compassion that rebuked the selfish exclusiveness of the Sadducees。 He taught that both for man's temporal and for his eternal good； God moves upon the heart by the Holy Spirit。 He