OCT 23

Matthew 22:16

Memorise Proverbs 25:26

“…if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

WHO WERE THE HERODIANS?

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. King Herod had to be therefore subservient to Rome if he was going to keep his throne. The Herodians were a group of people who supported king Herod ardently even to the point that they believed 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, which meant that they held government 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 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 let go of it. Hence, they were constantly trying to trap Jesus into saying something that would incriminate Himself like the incident mentioned in Matthew 22:16 where they were trying to trap Jesus into saying that they should not pay taxes to Rome. Instead, Jesus emerged faultless and confounded them yet again.

There are always people in the midst of the church who are power hungry. Like the Herodians, they want to be popular among the people and have their way over them. Perhaps it is just ego or pride, but other times, it could be that they have wicked intentions and want to achieve them through those who look up to them. They achieve this by being nice and kind, praising them even when the praise is false or giving gifts to people or using any other methods to please people into following them. God hates such men. (Luke 6:26, Jude 1:16). Paul said that if he should serve to please man, then he should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10). The trouble is such men claim to be the servants of Christ but they continue to serve and please man. We must be careful of such men. The next time you receive praise, be careful to check if it is sincere with no hidden agenda.

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