Matthew 22:29
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus points out that their error stems from two fundamental gaps: a misunderstanding of the Scriptures, which actually do speak of resurrection, and a failure to grasp the sheer, limitless power of God, limiting Him to earthly analogies. Their complex hypothetical, meant to disprove eternal life, actually ends up highlighting their own profound ignorance of both God’s Word and His capabilities.
The Sadducees, who denied any resurrection from the dead, try to trap Jesus by presenting a hypothetical situation about a woman married to seven brothers. They want to expose what they see as a logical absurdity in the belief in a future life, hoping to discredit Jesus' teachings. Jesus counters that their error stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of both the Scriptures and the very power of God.
The Sadducees thought they had Jesus trapped with a clever question based on Moses. But Jesus points out their error runs deeper than just missing a detail.
Jesus diagnoses the Sadducees' fundamental mistake: they 'err, not knowing the Scriptures.' This wasn't just about misinterpreting one passage. It meant they lacked a basic understanding of the God of Israel as revealed in His Word.
Their error wasn't just about the resurrection itself, but about the whole framework of God's redemptive plan, which is woven throughout the Old Testament. They were so focused on the earthly, the tangible, and the immediate that they missed the grander, unfolding narrative of God's promises.
Think about it: If you only read the first chapter of a book, you'd miss the plot! The Sadducees were stuck on chapter one, failing to see how God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob pointed to a future beyond death.
The Sadducees couldn't imagine resurrection because they were limited by their understanding of the 'here and now.' Jesus points them to a power that shatters those limits.
Jesus adds a second critical reason for their error: 'nor the power of God.' The Sadducees' problem wasn't just ignorance of Scripture; it was also a deficit in their understanding of God Himself.
They operated with a finite view of God's capabilities. Their logical trap about the woman married to seven brothers assumed that future life would operate under the same earthly rules of marriage and procreation. They couldn't conceive of God's power to transform existence beyond our current physical limitations.
Jesus reminds them (and us!) that God's power isn't just about creating the world; it's about re-creating, renewing, and resurrecting. It’s a power that transcends death, changes the very nature of our existence, and allows us to be 'like the angels of God in heaven' – free from the constraints of this earthly life.
Understand the original words
graphē · Greek Noun
The collection of divinely inspired writings that reveal God's character, will, and plan for redemption. In the New Testament, it refers to the Hebrew Old Testament, which Jesus affirmed as authoritative and reliable.
dynamis · Greek Noun
The dynamic, life-giving capability and authority of God manifested in creation, miracles, and the transformation of humanity. It refers specifically here to God's capacity to bring about the afterlife in a way that transcends current physical limitations.
The Sadducees' denial of the resurrection was tied to their limited view of Scripture and their inability to conceive of God's power transcending earthly conditions. Jesus' response directly confronted this limited worldview, rooting his argument in the authority of Moses and the boundless nature of God's power.
c. 2nd century BC
Formation of the Sadducees
The Sadducees emerged as a distinct religious and political sect among Jews, notably differing from the Pharisees. They primarily accepted only the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative and denied core beliefs like the resurrection, angels, and spirits.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Sadducees' Political Influence
During the Second Temple period, the Sadducees held significant influence, especially among the priestly aristocracy and the Sanhedrin. Their political power meant their theological views, particularly their denial of the resurrection, were a prominent part of the religious landscape.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Encounters
Jesus engaged in public teaching and miracles, challenging the religious authorities. During this period, he frequently debated with various Jewish sects, including the Sadducees who sought to trap him with difficult questions.
c. AD 30-33
This passage describes the resurrected body as 'imperishable' and 'glorified,' directly contrasting with the earthly, mortal body. It echoes Jesus' point that the resurrection life is fundamentally different from our current existence, addressing the Sadducees' misunderstanding of its nature.
Exodus 3:6This is the very Scripture Jesus quotes to prove the resurrection to the Sadducees. It shows that God's covenant relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had long since died, implies their continued existence and, by extension, the resurrection.
Daniel 12:2This prophetic passage explicitly speaks of many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth coming to life, some to everlasting life and some to shame. It demonstrates that the concept of resurrection was present in the broader Hebrew Scriptures, not just hinted at in the Pentateuch.
Hebrews 11:16This verse speaks of believers aspiring to a 'better country, that is, a heavenly one,' and that 'God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.' This connects to Jesus' argument that God's relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob signifies their living status and future hope beyond earthly death.
Romans 8:11calvinMatthew 22:23-33: "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,"
- The same day came to him the Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, and interrogated him, 24. Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, not having a child, [64] his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. 25. Now there were amongst us seven brothers, and the first, having married a wife, died, and, having no seed, left his wife to his brother…
ellicottMatthew 22:29: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."
(29) Ye do err. —This is, it may be noted, the one occasion in the Gospel history in which our Lord comes into direct collision with the Sadducees. On the whole, while distinctly condemning and refuting their characteristic error, the tone in which He speaks is less stern than that in which He addresses the Pharisees. They were less characterised by hypocrisy, and that, as the pessim…
Jesus points out that their error stems from two fundamental gaps: a misunderstanding of the Scriptures, which actually do speak of resurrection, and a failure to grasp the sheer, limitless power of God, limiting Him to earthly analogies. Their complex hypothetical, meant to disprove eternal life, actually ends up highlighting their own profound ignorance of both God’s Word and His capabilities.
The Sadducees, who denied any resurrection from the dead, try to trap Jesus by presenting a hypothetical situation about a woman married to seven brothers. They want to expose what they see as a logical absurdity in the belief in a future life, hoping to discredit Jesus' teachings. Jesus counters that their error stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of both the Scriptures and the very power of God.
The Sadducees, who denied any resurrection from the dead, try to trap Jesus by presenting a hypothetical situation about a woman married to seven brothers. They want to expose what they see as a logical absurdity in the belief in a future life, hoping to discredit Jesus' teachings. Jesus counters that their error stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of both the Scriptures and the very power of God.
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The Sadducees' Challenge
The Sadducees directly confronted Jesus with a hypothetical case based on the Levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5), aiming to discredit the doctrine of the resurrection by presenting a seemingly absurd scenario.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Refutation
Jesus responded by stating they were mistaken due to their ignorance of Scripture and God's power. He proved the resurrection from Moses' writings (Exodus 3:6) and explained that resurrected beings would be like angels, not subject to earthly marriage customs.
c. AD 45-65
New Testament Accounts
The Gospels record Jesus' encounter with the Sadducees, preserving their question and Jesus' powerful rebuttal. This event highlights the theological divides within Judaism and Jesus' authority over established beliefs.
This verse states that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers, promising to give life to their mortal bodies. It highlights the 'power of God' that Jesus points to, demonstrating the divine enablement for resurrection.
"But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God." — Jesus points out that their error stems from two fundamental gaps: a misunderstanding of the Scriptures, which actually do speak of resurrection, and a failure to grasp the sheer, limitless power o…
