Herodian

The Herodians were a Jewish political party that supported the rule of the Herodian dynasty, which governed Judea and the surrounding regions under the authority of the Roman Empire. They are mentioned in the New Testament on three occasions, always in connection with the Pharisees and their opposition to Jesus (Matthew 22:16; Mrk.3.6; 12:13).

The Herodians' political allegiance to the Herodian family put them at odds with the Pharisees, who resented the Roman occupation and the Herodian dynasty's collaboration with the Romans. However, despite their differences, the Herodians and the Pharisees found common ground in their opposition to Jesus and His teachings.

In Matthew 22:16 and Mrk.12.13, the Herodians and the Pharisees together sought to entrap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. This question was designed to force Jesus into taking a position that would either alienate Him from the people or provide grounds for accusing Him of sedition against the Roman authorities. Jesus, however, perceived their hypocrisy and answered with wisdom, saying, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mrk.12.17).

In Mrk.3.6, following Jesus' healing of a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees and the Herodians conspired together about how they might destroy Jesus. This collaboration between two groups with differing political views highlights the perceived threat that Jesus' ministry posed to the religious and political establishment of His day.

The Herodians' involvement in the opposition to Jesus reveals the complex political and religious landscape of first-century Judea and underscores the challenges Jesus faced as He proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God.