This would allude to His parable of the sower as discussed in chapter 13. Many hear the Torah preached,
but few truly adhere to it. See also Matt 7:13-14.
The "call" of YHWH can be traced to the Shema (Deuteronomy 6) which is a call to enter the Kingdom (see
comments on verse 37 below). The Shema can be considered YHWH's "plan of salvation", as it gives
instruction to place our trust in the One true YHWH Elohim; and to seek Him and be conformed to His image
by being both hearers and doers of His Torah. All of these principles are reinforced in the various "New
Testament" letters.
22:15-22 They sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians―(15) Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. (16) And they sent
out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest
the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. (17) Tell
us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? (18) But Jesus perceived
their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (19) Shew me the tribute money. And they
brought unto him a penny. (20) And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? (21) They
say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are
Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (22) When they had heard these words, they marvelled,
and left him, and went their way.‖
Y‘shua's enemies now play their "secular card", bringing in the ruling family with ties to Rome prior to asking
Him a question about loyalty to Caesar.
Render Unto Caesar(Read also Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:19-26.)
From War 2.8.1 118 (Antiquities 18.1.1 3): ―Under his administration a certain Galilean named Judas
prevailed with his countrymen to revolt; and said they were cowards if they would endure to pay a tax to the
Romans and submit to mortal men as their lords. This man was a teacher of a peculiar sect of his own that
was not at all like the others. For there are three philosophical sects among the Jews...‖
It was seen above that an important part of the political background in Y‘shua‘s time was the Fourth
Philosophy of Judas the Galilean. In the present passage is the clearest indication that Y‘shua was seen by
some of his contemporaries as involved with that group. The originating tenet of the Fourth Philosophy was
that one should not pay taxes to Rome, as this was interpreted as a turning away from YHWH. When the
people in the cited passage ask Y‘shua if it is "lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor, or not", they are referring
to the Fourth Philosophy's reading of the Law of Moses. The questioners, even if they were hostile to them,
can't be seen as setting a devious trap – they were trying to pin Y‘shua‘s philosophy down by asking him his
opinion on the central question of the times.
In his answer, Y‘shua clearly states he is not a member of the Fourth Philosophy. Instead, he graphically
advocates the separation of the Believers Body and state. This answer clearly was not what his questioners
expected. It is possible they did not believe him, and the authorities continued to regard him as a
revolutionary until Pilate swept him up during the arrests of rebels. (For more details on the Fourth
Philosophy, see The Causes of the War with Rome at http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/causesOf
War.htm)
22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees―The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,‖
We have very little information on the teachings of the Sadducees. The Talmud and subsequent Jewish texts
reflect the Pharisaic position on issues, as they came to complete power (and the Sadducees to extinction)
not long after Y‘shua's time with the destruction of the Temple. One thing we do know is that the Sadducees
did not share the same views about the afterlife as their Pharisaic opponents, as explained below.
Sadducees
(Also see Mark 12:18, Luke 20:27; see also Acts 5:17, Acts 23:8)
Some Sadducees (those who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him a question.