The Error of the Sadducees

 Last week = confrontation with Pharisees and Herodians

NOW = confrontation with Sadducees - Mark 12:18

Pharisees were right wing, conservative, nationalistic, Law of Moses keepers
Opposed Jesus for religious reasons - interpretation of the Law

Herodians were liberal, left wing, Jews who were in bed with Rome
Opposed Jesus for political reasons (feared dis-favor with Rome_

Sadducees were in between!  Claim YHWH - Claim Judaism - But ... seek success in this life!! - all about here and now. 
Example:  Pragmatists - ie:  if it works for me, then = true (truth)
Had a foot in each camp!!  (liberal and conservative)
Not much mention of Sadducees in scripture but were very influential.

Sadducees = small group - wealthy, urban, upper class, educated, sophisticated, successful, ... AND they intended to stay that way!!!

Were fewer in number, and Not popular with the people.  But, were very influential!! 
Example = were Keepers of the Temple  (multi-billion dollar operation)
Were the movers and shakers in the Sanhedrin (ruling body) 
Were influential with Rome - the emperor, governors

Sadducees opposed Jesus because .. (1)  He's a country bumpkin - poor, uneducated, Galilean
Example:  Josephus' words concerning the Sadducees - "The Sadducees are, even among themselves, rather boorish in their behavior and, in their intercourse with their peers, are as rude as aliens."

(2)  He's popular with the people - (and they are not!)

(3)  He's perceived as a threat - to their comfortable and prosperous life-style - because he might upset Rome!!!  "don't rock the boat"

(Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees all  oppose Jesus!  Rome = indifferent to Him!!)  It's His own people who are opposed to Him.

What the Sadducees believed (and didn't believe)
Believed - (1)  theTorah - 1st. 5 books of the Bible - written by Moses  (believed they were the only authority)
therefore, (2)  YHWH - the 1 true God
(3)  should keep the Law to receive blessings in this life!!

Didn't believe - (1)  oral tradition (unwritten laws)
                       (2)  other 34 books of the Old Testament
                       (3) in Angels!?!
                       (4)  in afterlife!?!  no heaven, no hell.  This life only!
Therefore, (5)  in judgment ... in punishment or rewards  (ie:  in an afterlife)
(6)  the Resurrection ..... this is not about Jesus' resurrection.  (no one was even thinking of that!)
                                      = the general resurrection of believers.

Definition:  general Resurrection = God raising to life the Physical body and re-uniting it with the spirit/soul

John 5:25-29
John 6:39-40
John 11:23-24
(also found in Isaiah, Daniel, Romans, 1 Cor., 1 Thess., Revelation..)

So.....hoping to show Jesus as an ignorant and unlearned hillbilly ... Sadducees present rhetorical situation!

Mark 12:19-23  (from Deut. 25:5-6 - designed to protect widow and guarantee continuance of family lineage and inheritance)

Jesus' reply - Mark 12:24-27 with Luke 20:34-38

Emphasis on Mark 12:24 - "ye do err because Don't Know!!!!  God's Word, God's Power.....
Major insult to the Sadducees.

I)  You don't Know God's Word (the scriptures)
On one hand then knew the text well  (ie:  head knowledge)
However, Faith is more than intellectual grasp of Scripture.

Faith includes... (1) proper interpretation (of scriptures)
                         (2)  a resulting confidence (in God)

Compare to use of "Know" in Gen. 4:1 - "Adam Knew Eve....."
Point is more than head knowledge.  = personal intimacy!

(in other words, you know His words ... but do you Know Him?) 
hence, Bible Time verse - Phil. 3:10 - "That I might know Him.."

II)  You don't Know God's Power - ie:  His ability to do things BEYOND your comprehension and imagination!!

in context ... much of next life = like this life (personhood, interaction, seeing, hearing, speaking, touching, feelings,)
However, much will be different!  (evil, sin, sickness, death AND marriage as we know it.  

Objection!!   Body is here but person alive There??  And eventually body is raised?  renewed?  re-united to spirit/soul???

Answer:  is beyond out comprehension, but not beyond God's power!!!
Scripture examples:  1 Thess.4:13-17
                                1 Cor. 15:51-52
                                1 John 3:2

Jesus' final words - Mark 12:27 = "You are BADLY MISTAKEN!"

Some Observations/Applications

(1)  We can easily repeat the Sadducees error...
ie:  NOT knowing God's Word or God's Power
On one hand, we can't know it all  (He = infinite)
However, we can know enough to trust  - Deut. 29:29

(2)  Your logic (understanding) is a poor argument against God's knowledge.

(3)  True faith is not knowing all about God.... true faith is knowing enough about Him to trust Him in things we don't understand.  Deut. 29:29

(4)  Your view of the next life will influence your behavior in this life.

(5)  Beware a vain, prideful, smug attitude.  It prevents acquisition of knowledge! - Prov. 16:18

(6)  Don't ever under-estimate the power of God!!
This was the error of the Sadducees!