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Humble Hero
If the Jews had fulfilled their obligations to God faithfully, they
would not have come under a foreign power’s control. No Roman
banner would have waved over Jerusalem, no Roman governor would
have ruled within her walls.
The Pharisees marveled at Christ’s answer. He had not only
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rebuked their hypocrisy but had stated a great principle that clearly
defines the limits of duty to the civil government and duty to God.
And although many went away dissatisfied, they saw that Jesus
had clearly set forth the principle underlying the question, and they
marveled at His farseeing discernment.
No sooner had Jesus silenced the Pharisees than the Sadducees
came forward with sly questions. As a group they were bigoted,
yet there were persons of genuine piety among them who accepted
Christ’s teachings. The Sadducees professed to believe the greater
portion of the Scriptures, but in practical terms they were skeptics
and materialists.
The Resurrection, a Subject of Controversy
The resurrection was especially a subject of controversy between
the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees had been firm believers
in the resurrection, but their views about the future state became con-
fused. Death became a mystery beyond explanation. The discussions
between the two parties usually resulted in angry disputes.
The Sadducees did not have so strong a hold on the common
people, but many had the influence that wealth gives. The high
priest was usually chosen from among them. The fact that they were
eligible for such a high office gave influence to their errors.
The Sadducees rejected the teaching of Jesus; His teaching about
the future life contradicted their theories. They believed that, having
created human beings, God had left them to themselves, independent
of a higher influence. They held that people were free to control
their own lives and to shape the events of the world; their destiny
was in their own hands.