Mar 12:18-27 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 12:18-27: 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 (Matt 22:23-33 // Luke 20:27-40 ; Acts 4:1-3 ; 5:12 , 17 ; 22:30–23:10 ; the exceptions are Matt 3:7 ; 16:1-12 ). • The Sadducees’ question (Mark 12:19-23 ) was carefully crafted and based on a commandment of Moses (Deut 25:5-6 ; see Gen 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 (cp. Matt 12:41-42 ; Luke 16:19-31 ; see also Mark 8:31 ; 9:31 ; 10:34 ). 12:18 This is the only place in Mark where the Sadducees are mentioned by name, although they are included in references to the leading priests (see 8:31 ; 10:33 ; 11:18 , 27 ). Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection from the dead (see Acts 4:1-2 ; 23:8 ).

Summary for Mark 12:18-27: 12:18-27 ^a This is the third controversy story of the series begun in 11:27 ^b. As in most New Testament references to the Sadducees, the setting is the Temple (Matt 22:23-33 ^c // Luke 20:27-40 ^d; Acts 4:1-3 ^e; 5:12 ^f, 17 ^g; 22:30–23:10 ^h; the exceptions are Matt 3:7 ⁱ; 16:1-12 ^j).

• The Sadducees’ question (Mark 12:19-23 ^k) was carefully crafted and based on a commandment of Moses (Deut 25:5-6 ^l; see Gen 38:6-11 ^m; Ruth 4:1-22 ⁿ). 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 (cp. Matt 12:41-42 ^o; Luke 16:19-31 ^p; see also Mark 8:31 ^q; 9:31 ^r; 10:34 ^s). 12:18 ^t This is the only place in Mark where the Sadducees are mentioned by name, although they are included in references to the leading priests (see 8:31 ^u; 10:33 ^v; 11:18 ^w, 27 ^x). Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection from the dead (see Acts 4:1-2 ^y; 23:8 ^z).
12:19 ^aa The Sadducees based their views only on the books of Moses.

• Like the Pharisees (12:14 ^ab), they addressed Jesus as Teacher. The Sadducees were fond of debating with religious teachers (see Josephus, Antiquities 18.1.4).
Summary for Mark 12:24-27: 12:24-27 ^ac Jesus’ response had two elements. First, he rebuked the Sadducees’ ignorance of the Scriptures (i.e., the Old Testament), where the resurrection of the dead is referred to most clearly in the Prophets (Isa 26:19 ^ad; Ezek 37:1-14 ^ae) and the Writings (Job 19:26 ^af; Pss 16:9-11 ^ag; 49:15 ^ah; 73:23-26 ^ai; Dan 12:2 ^aj). However, the Sadducees accepted only the Torah (Genesis—Deuteronomy), so Jesus answered them from the Torah. The reference to God as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (see Exod 3:6 ^ak, 15-16 ^al) showed that God’s covenant with the patriarchs could not be broken by death. They were still alive (Matt 8:11-12 ^am; 13:17 ^an; Luke 16:19-31 ^ao; John 8:56 ^ap), for God is the God of the living, not the dead. God’s covenant relationship with his people extends beyond their physical death, which means that the afterlife must be a reality.

• Second, Jesus challenged the Sadducees’ ignorance of God’s power. They thought that life in the resurrection would have to be an extension of mortal life. Instead, it is life raised to an entirely new level. In this new existence, there is no need for sexual reproduction because there is no more death. The intimacy of marriage is superseded by fellowship with a multitude of fellow believers and with God (Mark 10:29-30 ^aq; Matt 19:28-29 ^ar; Luke 18:29-30 ^as; Rev 21:1-4 ^at). It is in this respect that resurrected believers will be like the angels in heaven.

• Jesus’ argument demonstrates his wisdom before his opponents and affirms the hope of the resurrection for his followers. Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25 ^au); he has conquered death and assured those who believe in him that they will “not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ^av).