Mark 12:24

Translations

Modern

Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Traditional

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

Literal

Jesus was saying to them, “Do you not go astray because of this, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God?

Latin

Et respondens Jesus, ait illis: Nonne ideo erratis, non scientes Scripturas, neque virtutem Dei?

Interlinear

Greek

English

Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Notes

Mark 12:24–27

Jesus gave two answers. First, he corrected the Sadducees because they did not understand the Scriptures (the Old Testament). The resurrection of the dead is shown most clearly in the Prophets (Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1–14) and the Writings (Job 19:26; Psalms 16:9–11; 49:15; 73:23–26; Daniel 12:2). But the Sadducees accepted only the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy). So Jesus answered them from the Torah.
God called himself “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6, 15–16). This showed that God’s covenant (binding relationship) with the patriarchs could not be ended by death. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive to God (Matthew 8:11–12; 13:17; Luke 16:19–31; John 8:56). God is the God of the living, not the dead. This means that God’s relationship with his people continues after physical death.
Second, Jesus corrected the Sadducees because they did not understand God’s power. They thought resurrection life would be the same as mortal life. But resurrection life is new and different. In that life, people will not need sexual reproduction because there will be no more death. Marriage will no longer have the same role. Believers will share full fellowship with God and with all God’s people (Mark 10:29–30; Matthew 19:28–29; Luke 18:29–30; Revelation 21:1–4). In this way, resurrected believers will be like the angels in heaven.
The answer Jesus gave shows his wisdom before his opponents. It also confirmed the hope of resurrection for his followers. Jesus is "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). He has defeated death. He promises that all who believe in him will "not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Mark 12:18–27

This is the third controversy story of the series begun in 11:27. As in most New Testament references to the Sadducees, the setting is the temple (Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40; Acts 4:1–3; 5:12, 17; 22:30–23:10; the exceptions are Matthew 3:7; 16:1–12).
The Sadducees’ question (Mark 12:19–23) was carefully crafted and based on a commandment of Moses (Deuteronomy 25:5–6; see Genesis 38:6–11; Ruth 4:1–22). Since all seven men could not have the woman as wife in the resurrection, and since none of them had a special claim, the Sadducees thought that they had proven the absurdity of the doctrine of the resurrection and refuted the Pharisees and Jesus (compare Matthew 12:41–42; Luke 16:19–31; see also Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34).

Theme notes and profiles

The Sadducees The Resurrection of the Dead

Events

Related verses

2 Timothy 3:15–17
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
John 20:9
For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19
…and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
Jeremiah 32:17
“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
Philippians 3:21
…who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Luke 1:37
For no word from God will ever fail.”

Parallels

Matthew 22:23–33 Luke 20:27–40

People

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Inheritance Jesus Christ, Teachings of Mark, Gospel of Resurrection Sadducees

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Jesus, the Christ: Tested by the Sadducees Concerning the Resurrection of the Dead (In Jerusalem) Marriage: Not Binding After Death Resurrection: General Scriptures Concerning Sadducees: Reject the Doctrine of the Resurrection Satire of Jesus Against Hypocrites The Resurrection is not Incredible The Sadducees: Christ: Vindicated the Resurrection Against Word of God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Mark 12:24

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Interlinear?

Notes?

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