The Error of the Sadducees

[Book of Jeremiah]

There is clear evidence that the Sadducees were not nearly so convinced that there was no resurrection after death. Otherwise - why did they ask Jesus about whose wife a dead woman would become in the resurrection? Jesus asked them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Notice that is where these men erred. They didn't know the Scriptures, neither did they know the power of God. What a sad report considering that these men had the testimony of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! They had the testimony of Moses who gave account of how God delivered their fathers before them from certain death - by parting the Red Sea!

Yet Jesus didn't remind them of their heritage but rather stated the truth. They did not know the scriptures, neither did they know the power of God. Therein, they were in error.

The Lord addressed the Sadducees giving them the answer to their question and then uncovered their motive for asking it!

He told them: For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the death, that they rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

Here we see Jesus telling the Sadducees in the beginning of this dialogue that they err but in the final conclusion they do greatly err.

Here is the record in Scripture of what happened:

Mark:12:18-44


As I was reading this - this morning - it occurred to me that these men had no excuse for not believing. Look at how they addressed Jesus Christ - Master. This was how they addressed Jesus Christ. Of course they believed him! Many believed him! This is recorded in Holy Scripture - the Written Word of God!

So why did many of them not believe upon Him and follow Him?

The answer is in John 12:42, 43.

John 12:42-43 King James Version (KJV)
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

King James Version (KJV)

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Mark 12:18- King James Version (KJV)

18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain