The Herodians
The Herodians
The Herodians were Jews who stood with the rule of the Herods. But who were the Herods?
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem,”
King Herod AKA Herod the Great was the first. In the Bible, we see him in contrast with the wise men from the East and Jesus’s family. He was the one responsible for all the deaths of the babies in Bethlehem. But he is also known for helping in the second temple and building up some of the western wall of the temple complex. This made him favorable to the Jews. But then he instituted his priests from Babylon in the second temple. Which made him hated by the Jews. In the end, they hated him more than they liked him.
“But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.”
Archelaus AKA Herod Archelaus ruled in Judea. Along with 2 of his brothers and his aunt, they took over the vast rule that Herod the Great had. Herod the Tetrarch one of His brothers ruled in the northern region of Galilee. Joseph feared Archelaus so he took his family up to Galilee to live under the rule of Herod the Tetrarch.
Herod the Tetrarch was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and murdered. He would be the one whom Pilot would send Jesus to.
“Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison.”
Matthew 14:9-10 HCSB
“Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, dressed Him in a brilliant robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.”
In all the Herod family dynasty lasted for roughly 75 years. They made allies with some of the Jews and they became known as the Herodians. For the first time the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians had a common enemy, Jesus, and could put aside their differences and work to trap Jesus, unsuccessfully!
Most of us will not be working to plot against Jesus, how many times have we tried to trap Jesus or try to prove Him wrong? Instead, we should know by now that His words are true! We may try to put one scripture against another thinking they conflict when in reality they actually support each other.
“They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality. Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ”
But perceiving their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing Me, hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought Him a denarius. “Whose image and inscription is this? ” He asked them.
“Caesar’s,” they said to Him.
Then He said to them, “Therefore give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.”
Matthew 22:16-22 HCSB
We cannot trip up Jesus! Let us stop trying and embrace Him fully!
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