Mark 12:13 (ESV) And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. The Herodians were detestable to the Pharisees. Yet the two groups united in their opposition to Jesus. This unholy coalition in wickedness had the sole purpose to trip up Jesus in his words. Kind of sounds like our political system today. The most deceptive people use the truth to deceive the innocent. Jesus teaches us wisdom to discern this deception.