Mark 12:24

THE SADDUCEES CONFUTED

‘Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?’

Mark 12:24

The Sadducees, like the Pharisees, thought to entangle and perplex our Lord with hard questions. The Church must not expect to fare better than its Master, and to-day questions are raised which it is not always easy to answer.

I. The unfairness of the question.—The question propounded by the Sadducees is a striking illustration of unfairness. The case was a supposed and not a real one. On the face of it there is the strongest appearance of improbability. The chances against such a case occurring in reality are almost infinite. When we are assailed in argument we must endeavour, as far as we can, to make our discussion turn on the great plain facts and evidences of Christianity, and be on our guard against unfairness and dishonesty in argument.

II. Ignorance of the Scriptures.—Much of religious error may be traced to ignorance of the Bible. Our Lord’s words in reply to the Sadducees declare this plainly. The truth of the principle here laid down is proved by facts in almost every age of Church history. The parishes in our land where there is most true religion are those in which the Bible is most studied. The godliest families are Bible-reading families. The holiest men and women are Bible-reading people.

III. After the Resurrection.—This incident tells us how different will be the state of things after the resurrection from the state in which we live now. The risen saint will be completely freed from everything which is now an evidence of weakness and infirmity. There shall be nothing like Mahomet’s gross and sensual Paradise in the Christian’s future existence. Hunger and thirst being no more, there shall be no need of food. Enjoying the full presence of God and His Christ, men and women shall no more need the marriage union in order to help one another. Clothed in a glorious body, they shall be ‘as the angels which are in heaven.’

Illustration

‘As to the text, “I am the God of Abraham,” etc., being a convincing proof of the resurrection of the body, there is a passage in Bishop Pearson which is worth reading. He says of this text, as quoted by our Lord, “With the force of this argument the multitude was astonished, and the Sadducees silenced. For under the name of God was understood a great benefactor, a God of promise; and to be ‘ their God,’ was to bless them and reward them; as in them to be ‘His servants,’ and ‘His people’ was to believe in Him and obey Him. Now Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had not received the promise which they expected: and therefore God, after their death, desiring still to be called ‘their God,’ He thereby acknowledgeth that he had a blessing and a reward for them still, and consequently that He will raise them to another life, in which they may receive it. So that the argument of our Saviour is the same which the Jews have drawn from another place of Moses (Exodus 6:3), ‘I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty: but by My name Jehovah was I not made known to them. Nevertheless I have established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan.’ It is not said ‘to give their sons,’ ‘but to give them the land;’ and, therefore, because while they lived here they enjoyed it not, they must rise again that they may receive the promise.” ’