The Sadducees’ Question (Part 1 of 2)

Mark chapter 12 we read about a group of religious hypocrites who tried to trap Jesus with a complicated question. In essence they concocted a hypothetical case about a widow who lost several consecutive husbands and remarried multiple times.

They wondered which man would be recognized as her husband in heaven will today on Truth for Life. Alistair Begg helps us understand Jesus careful and masterful response but I think there is little doubt that the response of Jesus to this particular question fails entirely to meet the contemporary standards of political correctness. If you were following along carefully, you would notice the distinction. The politically correct answer to an approach like this would be to have said that their course a variety of views concerning the resurrection and perspectives on the resurrection, and would also have gone on to say that all of those views are equally valid and because there equally valid. There is no real reason for us to fall out with one another, and so on. We will all be tremendously happy. In direct contrast to that Jesus is very direct in pointing out that his questionnaires are flat-out wrong and you will notice he says that on two occasions in the passage that we read in verse 24 is this not the reason you are wrong. He says, and then in verse 27. You are quite wrong. What we have here is a succession of approaches by the religious leaders and their friends to try and unnerve or trip up were thwarted in some way I Jesus of Nazareth and again that their playing is essentially stump the rabbi they they are coming with a series of questions for the teacher and in every instance is just an attempt to make him look foolish or make the ideas in the concepts seem quite ridiculous.

How difficult it must have been for these four homes, given that they were the credentials once they were the ones with the diploma's they were the ones with the right kind of background in this Galilean carpenter this upstart fellow had none of what they had even come from the right kind of background he had gone to the proper schools and yet surprise, surprise it was to this individual. Of the people are paying attention and not to them. At the end of Jesus talks the people actually respond. They went out, saying they were amazed by his teaching many of them became his followers in a way that people were falling off from the religious establishment of the time. And as we've noted, there is more than a little jealousy that is in the heart of these individuals as they come to challenge him know I would like to assume that we all knew everything about everything but it's clear that we don't and therefore we need to ask the question, who who where the Sadducees and the origin of their name is somewhat foggy.

It's unclear but in terms of their position, their status in the society of the time. The historians recorded for is the fact that they were the aristocratic party.

They were made up of the high priestly caste and also of members leave family members of the leading individuals in Jerusalem. They were socially influential on account of their wealth and their status. They were notoriously arrogant and harsh in their execution and administration of justice, and they were the same time on the theologically conservative and of the spectrum of Judaism and of their doctrines, so much so that they rejected the innovative ideas that the Pharisees brought to the table, not least of all, this idea of the resurrection and really at the top of their list of things to be refuted was this matter of the resurrection, and that's why Mark says in verse 18 and Sadducees came to him who say that there is no resurrection. This was the defining feature of these individuals now there question as was true in the previous couple of questions is not just out of a desire for instruction, but in order once again to try and show just how absurd the idea of in this instance, the resurrection proves to be. It's important for us also to know that the Sadducees really only dealt with the Pentateuch that is the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, they operated out of the Pentateuch, and it is from the Pentateuch that they do." In order to seek to give substance to their question, which is really a trick question.

Don't be misled by the fact that some is as well. They were quoting from the Bible you know, yes, but what were they doing when they were quoting from the Bible. Here you have these individuals, the Sadducees, and the other Bibles open is aware their yearly come to Jesus and he said we want to speak to you about an issue that you know is found in the Bible, Moses wrote for us.

Clever note. Let's just turn back for a moment and make sure that we understand that to which they are referring. Deuteronomy chapter 25 and verse five and you notice if you have the same version is as I do that it says laws concerning Leverett marriage Leverett marriage. The word lever.

The noun lever RTL EVI are is is Latin for brother-in-law, brother-in-law, these are laws that relate to marriage, and particularly to the role of the brother-in-law in the loss of his brother to death, and here we have.

If brothers dwell together in one of them dies and has no son. The wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go into her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her in the first son verse six, whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. That's why this is taking place.

That's why she doesn't go get married outside the framework of the family because the concern is for the name of the family and for the heritage of the one who is dying. Verse seven and if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife.

Then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say my husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me. Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him and if he persists, and I do not wish to take her. Then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal office food and spit in his face, and she shall answer and say so shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brothers house and the name of his house shall be called in Israel. The house of him who had his sandal pulled off and at the heart of it is the issue that these Sadducees now bring before Jesus in an attempt to set the law of God in the Pentateuch against the reality of the promise resurrection, which if he actually had their hands on. They would realize is also there in the five books of the law. All of the anticipation of what there is going to be, but because they are fixed in their desire to oppose this they present themselves in this way, and so a look at how deposits opposing the situation has arisen.

They say where a married man is died before his wife as a child and his brother has married the widow and then I brother died before producing an air went on all the way through to the death of the seventh brother, and then finally the death of the sevenfold widow, which, in her case would be a relief. By that point presumably then they say verse 23 in the resurrection when they arise again.

No lights. See sick so they're all there there there there with one another in the resurrection in the resurrection when they all rise again in the resurrection. When they rise again, who is while she will she be for the seven had her as a wife got you the Leverett law is so clear.

There can't be a resurrection, because if there was a resurrection and me complete chaos will be running around heaven all the time trying to figure out who was married to be absolutely ridiculous all ideas absurd. That's what they're saying and the argument that they're using is a reduction will add absurd him with some of you remember from your logic classes and some of you imply routinely in law courts all around Cleveland, but we will talk about that for now, it was taking something that is true, and reducing it to a level that is absolutely absurd whereby we then use it as a mechanism to refute the reality of the of the premise of this is to believe in the resurrection just ridiculous. Verse 24.

Jesus responds and you will notice he responds with two questions of his own first question is in verse 24 is this not the reason you're wrong because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God for when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of heaven, is the first question and then in verse 26. The second question, and has for the dead being raised. Have you not read in the book of Moses in the passage about the Bush how God spoke to him. Okay, very straightforward to the first of the questions about the issue of marriage which is not really the question.

The underlying question is the fundamental issue of the resurrection, but to the first question. He says if you want to think about the first question, as you have mentioned it here in the absurd argument that you've used then is the reason you're wrong because you know another Scriptures and another part of what a stinging rebuke had his assistant. These are the boys.

This is the religious aristocracy, these people are from the high priestly families. These are the ones who are meticulous in relationship to the Pentateuch. They are the ones work on courting the law of God to Jesus and Jesus. As you know what your problem probably is you don't know the Bible you don't know the Scriptures and you don't know the power of God. If you knew the Scriptures you would know not to ask this question if you knew the power of God, you would realize that in the purposes of God.

There are done mentions that we have not yet seen. But, into which we will inevitably enter and in relationship to the second question you never read your Bible's access to the desert rebuke as well and as for the dead being raised. Have you not read in the book of Moses was the book of Moses. What we have in the book of Moses there there five books he says if you want to quote the Pentateuch was called the Pentateuch. Did you read it you can imagine how uncomfortable these characters must feel in their clothes. How the squid I can see their toes curling in their shoes as he realized again and again.

Firstly, the group comes in challenges as his authority and absolutely decimate some then they come with a question about Caesar and he produces the denarius and now they're dumbfounded now.

The next group of lined up in there ready and they fire their grade volley against him of this wonderful scenario that they have contrived and how clever they must've thought it was and now he's actually send them of you never actually read this thing that you keep coming here with and want me to comment on this amazing city again, we think to examine Jesus intellectually and he turns things around and examines us spiritually.

He turns the searching gaze on us. Jesus turns the tables on an adverse 25 when he introduces this. You will notice that it is in the resurrection is a nonnegotiable remember in verse 2023 when I was trying vain attempt at humor their investment in the in the resurrection.

When they rise again in the resurrection when the rising and oh yeah, Jesus is verse 25 for when they rise from you. My thing is funny until he is not a joke. For when they rise from the dead is a nonnegotiable the resurrection from the dead is absolutely foundational to the unfolding story of God's purposes from all of eternity when he says immediately is that life in heaven is going to be significantly different from anything on earth, the resurrection life he says is comparable to the life that is enjoyed by the Angels for when they rise from the dead and they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. I don't think there's any question that Jesus knew exactly what he was doing as he raised the issue of angels because the Angels were also part of what Sadducees didn't believe and for your own follow-up, you can go to acts chapter 23 where Paul is defending himself against his accusers, and in the course of his monologue. He explains that he is a Pharisee and that is a Pharisee. He believes in the resurrection, and he actually says it is with respect to the hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial very cleverly because what then breaks out in the company is an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees for the Sadducees say says look that there is no resurrection nor Angel, nor spirit by the Pharisees acknowledge them all. So Jesus says when they arise.

They won't be marrying in this way, but they will be like the Angels. What I would just make your toes curl some more.

We don't believe in angels either that when you look at this when you seek to thing this out. Then it raises all kinds of both fascinating questions and interesting notions of what yet await size in the resurrection, let me finish. In this way by just giving is if you like.

Both are close to them the morning on the introduction to the evening. This came to mind as I was finishing my studies because during the week we had occasion to do a Q&A in one of their American cities for Truth for Life and in the course of the conversations of people stood up and said who they weren't in their background young lady stood up at one point and she introduced herself to me and to the group. She said that she was a new believer that she had recently come out of the New Age movement and that she had come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ by what she had discovered at least what she thought she was discovering was that she had now entered a world that was much darker and gloomier than the world out of which he had come because she said her New Age world was full of optimism. It was full of expectation. It was full of positive energy and now she had entered into a world that apparently an island where she'd been worshiping, but she'd entered into world and she said I was was dark it was gloomier and it was, not filled with these done mentions that had marked her life before and she said how how do I deal with this and and how do I how do I get beyond this or is this right or whatever might be and I responded by saying one of the ways that you will come to terms with this and clarify it in your own mind is by getting hold of a good hymnbook and I explained to her that a good hymnbook will help you understand so many of the doctrines that are foundational to Christianity, not least of all our understanding of the present world order and our understanding of the world order that is yet to be.

I'm not sure I just how much she made of that I have no occasion to speak with her afterwards. I did have a number of people coming asked me out for what hymnbook they were supposed to get and I told him I see a very ancient Methodist hymnbook would be a good start and some were surprised by that but I actually believe that the hymns of Wesley and so on are all there and you suffer from them and I tried to show to her that this is the reality of present Christian experience that CS Lewis that I believe in Christianity as I believe in the rising Sun simply because I can see it because by and I can see everything else and I said so our view of the world recognizes that on the brightest days that that that that the shadows fall into the reality of our expanding universe of understanding in Jesus. Darkness is common. Thorns remain, and so on. And I said and that is because we are actually being prepared for what I did I mention into which we will come that what we enjoy now in Christ is the new that is fashioned in the context of the badness of a fallen world. But one day we will be free not only from the power of sin and from the penalty of sin, but from the very presence of sin and eye center and here is a verse for you to take away first Corinthians 29 eye has not seen, nor ear hair. Neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love him. In other words, we are ushered into iodine mention in Christ that has a fulfillment in the resurrection, that is actually beyond us eye has not seen.

It is invisible, nor ear hair. It is inaudible. Neither has it entered into the heart of man, it is inconceivable but is not in doubt. The reason it isn't into this because of the reality of the resurrection.

That's why Jesus says insofar as you've got to understand God is not the God of the day he's the God of the living.

To this we will return your listing to Truth for Life message from Alastair Greg called the Sadducees question to give you some context this message falls in a larger study of Mark's gospel. There are 13 complete sermons in volume 6 of Alistair's study of the Gospel according to Mark today's original presentation contains far more teaching than we been able to include on this program so keep in mind you can download messages from this study using our mobile app or when you go to Truth for Life.org this affordable access to clear and relevant Bible teaching is made possible by monthly truth partners and those who give one-time donations. Today we want to say thanks for your financial support by providing you a fascinating documentary that's called Puritan all of life, to the glory of God. This is a beautiful film that sheds light on the legacy of the Puritans and their influence on Christians today you find yourself grateful for the witness of these believers and challenged by their faithfulness in the midst of some very difficult seasons to give a donation and request the documentary on the Puritans tapped the Puritan DVD image on the mobile app for visit Truth for Life.org also call us at 888-588-7884, though it sounded like a question concerning a widow's marital status. What we are learning in our current study of Mark's gospel is, there was far more behind the question. The Sadducees asked Jesus, I'm Bob Lapine hoping you can join us again tomorrow, as our study in Mark chapter 12 continues the Bible teaching of Alastair Greg is furnished by Truth for Life for the learning is prolific