OCT 23

Matthew 22:16
Memorise Proverbs 25:26
“…if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

The Herodians were named after King Herod Antipas who lived from 4 BC to 39 AD. King Herod was appointed by the Roman Empire to rule over the Jews. So King Herod had to be subservient to Rome if he wanted to keep his throne. The Herodians were a group of people who supported King Herod ardently even to the point of believing that Herod was the Messiah.

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Herodians were powerful people in society. While the Pharisees held religious power, the Herodians held political power over the people. Because Herod had to submit to Roman rule, it meant that the Herodians often sided with Rome. The Pharisees and Herodians never really got along because of this. What the Pharisees wanted was often opposed to what Rome wanted.

However, both became united in their hatred for Jesus. Both could see their power and hold over the Jewish people eroding because of Jesus. More and more followed Jesus and the Pharisees and Herodians hated that fact. They wanted their power and refused to give it up. Hence, they were constantly trying to trap Jesus into saying something self-incriminating, as in the incident mentioned in Matthew 22:16 where they tried to trap Jesus into saying that they should not pay taxes to Rome. Instead, Jesus emerged faultless and confounded them yet again.

We may have such people in the midst of the church who seek power like the Herodians. They desire to be popular among the people and hold sway over their hearts. Sometimes it is because of ego or pride, but in other instances, it could be because of a more malicious intent. To achieve their objective, they utilise various means to amass a following - such as flattery, deceit, bribery or even coercion by force. They have no true concern to serve the Lord, but seek popularity and power to fulfil their own selfish agenda. We must be discerning and careful of such people in our midst.

Thought: Am I guilty of vain flattery?
Prayer: Father, teach me to discern between those who please man and those who please God.