In today’s Gospel reading, the questions that the Pharisees and the Sadducees asked Jesus were another unfair attempt or plot to entrap Jesus in theological disputes so they could accuse him of heresy of even sedition.
Jesus refutes them head-on with precise replies which are not only theologically and scripturally sound but which also expose the supposed truth-seeking Sadducees for what they really are. When we allow situations and particular instances to determine truths for ourselves, like trying to justify lying and not telling the truth to protect our own feelings or those of others, we are acting like the Sadducees and are indeed rejecting God’s truth.
Jesus’ replies confirm that truth is not variable and that, with a clear understanding of God built through strong relationships, we would not fall into the same trap as the Pharisees and Sadducees. If all our actions and intentions are truly directed to God and his greater glory, we would not to worry about misunderstandings or trivia presented but instead truly acknowledge the power of God as the God of the living and of truth. We would know the truth not merely through speech but have that knowledge deeply imprinted in our minds and hearts, which the Pharisees and Sadducees missed.
God’s truth teaches us to understand and respect the many different and complicated spheres and relationships in our lives: “Return to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
