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Christ Confounds His Enemies
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Had the Jews faithfully fulfilled their obligations to God, they
would not have become subject to a foreign power. No Roman ensign
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
rebuked their hypocrisy but had stated a great principle that clearly
defines the limits of man’s duty to the civil government and his duty
to God. 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 farseeing discernment.
No sooner were the Pharisees silenced than the Sadducees came
forward with artful questions. As a class they were bigoted, yet
among them were persons of genuine piety, who accepted Christ’s
teachings. The Sadducees professed to believe the greater portion of
the Scriptures, but practically they were skeptics and materialists.
The Resurrection, a Subject of Controversy
Between the Pharisees and Sadducees the resurrection was es-
pecially a subject of controversy. The Pharisees had been firm
believers in the resurrection, but their views in regard to the fu-
ture state became confused. Death became an inexplicable mystery.
The discussions between the two parties usually resulted in angry
disputes.
The Sadducees had not so strong a hold on the common people,
but many had the influence which wealth imparts. From among
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them the high priest was usually chosen. The fact that they were
eligible to such office gave influence to their errors.
The Sadducees rejected the teaching of Jesus; His teaching in
regard to the future life contradicted their theories. It was their belief
that, having created man, God had left him to himself, independent
of a higher influence. They held that he was free to control his own
life and to shape the events of the world; his destiny was in his own
hands.