21. 'Axodors, render) sc. as it is just. — olv, therefore) In these days the coins of one country are used promiscuously in others, as happens with French money in Germany ; but none except Roman money appears to have been current at that time in Judea. But if the Jews had not been subject to Caesar, they were not of such a disposition as to have employed foreign coin, espe cially when stamped with heathen likenesses (imaginibus). — xai, x.r.X., and, etc.) The one duty is not, as you suppose," destroyed by the other. The things which are God's, those which have been set apart and dedicated to Him are not Cassar's ; but the things which are Caesar's are, in some sort, also God's.1 — ra ro\j &tov, the things that are God's) whose cause you wish to appear to plead ; see ver. 1 6.
22. ' Edavpaffav, they marvelled) And showed their astonish ment at His safe and true answer.
23. 2ad5oux.a/b/, Sadducees) Towards the close of His earthly career all rise together against Jesus. The Sadducees are seldom mentioned by the Evangelists ; on that day not even the Sadducees remained quiescent. — avderasiv, resurrection) It is clear that this article of faith was well known at that time, from the Evangelist not having added the words, " of the dead." And the adversaries of this article contravene it in various de grees, some by denying2 altogether the immortality of the soul, others, its being joined again to its former body. And there may also have been a variety of error among the Sadducees them selves.
24. Tixva, children) sc. a son or a daughter, or more, see Deut. xxv. 5.
25. Hap r)fj,Tv, with us) The Sadducees raise this doubt on a
1 Very frequently human sagacity fastens only upon one side, whichever side it be, of Duties [having a twofold side or aspect] : true wisdom weighs all things at the same time and together. These hypocrites were thinking thus : tribute ought to be given either to God for the use of the Temple, or else to Caesar. Jesus saith, It is right, according to divine law, that both be clone. So also the Sadducees were thinking thus : If the resurrection be admitted, the wife must be given back either to the first brother, or to the second, etc. But Truth subjoins the reply, She is to be given back not even to any one out of them all. — V. g.
2 The Wisdom of the world, like the barren figtree, fruitless and most beggarly, is in fact for the most part occupied in negations. — V. g.