Mark 12:18-24 - The Sadducees Ask About Marriage

Mark 12:18-24
18 Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21 The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22 and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also.23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?

Message: The Sadducees Ask About Marriage

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been speaking to Jewish leaders and other religious leaders in his time in Jerusalem: chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Herodians. All of them have been critical of Jesus and His teaching. Jesus has been in Jerusalem about 4 days now.

All of these different voices must mean that even within bible based faiths there were (and are) many different voices and beliefs and different ways of practicing those faiths. The Sadducees were a first-century Jewish sect that stressed the power of our free will and believed theology could be based only on the first five books of the Bible. They did not believe in resurrection as they don't find that this subject was addressed in the first five books of the Bible. Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him. They came to Jesus with an imaginary question which, they thought, would reduce to an absurdity the doctrine of the immortality of the soul (never to cease) and the resurrection of the flesh. Jesus' response to them was focused then on a proper understanding of the scripture. Jesus often went back to examine the true meaning of what had been stated in the Scripture. He will prove that the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly taught.

The focus of Jesus seems to be less about the resurrection and more about the immortality of the soul and a future state of rewards and punishments.

From verses 19-23 the case is put forth. I am amazed at the detail that Mark addresses here with this question. The Sadducees address the question of a child that is born to the wife of seven brothers. After each brother died the next brother took on the role of marrying the wife. In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her. And Jesus responds clearly - Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? The Sadducces had a failure to know the scriptures.

Even in this age, I do think we fail to clearly understand the Bible or fail to accept what it states. We would much rather reason with our own intellect and our own interpretation of things. Yet, it is difficult to understand the context of a passage and then whether that principle was for a time period of for all time periods. This seems to be one of the struggles people have in interpreting scripture. Culture evolves and changes and as it does, some expect the theology to change as well.

Summary - The Sadducees, like the Pharisees, Herodians, Chief Priests and scribes before them have come to Jesus with a question. Jesus is in Jerusalem, on the heels of his soon death and resurrection. But how that will occur is an unknown to the disciples. They continue to follow Him and sometimes they themselves are a part of the questions. Here the question is resurrection and how it applies to a married couple and specifically whose child born to a living brother and wife belongs to given the fact that this is not the first husband of that wife. Mosaic law prescribed that a man was to marry his brother's wife if his brother were to die without producing an heir with that wife. And then, though the Sadducees don't believe in the resurrection, the question is what will the relationship of the wife with a child and husband look like upon the resurrection.

Promise: If we are going to know the truth, we must know the Bible. It holds the answers to life.

Prayer: Lord, thank  you for being true to your scripture and giving light to darkness. Lord, help to understand what you are teaching me in this passages about You, about Your message and what it looks like to me today.