The Sadducees were a Jewish sect, largely composed of wealthy, aristocratic families and the hereditary priestly class. They held significant political influence, controlling the Temple in Jerusalem and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. They adhered to the written Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and rejected oral tradition and beliefs like the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul, or the existence of angels.

Representatives from this group came to Jesus with a question about the resurrection, which they did not believe in. “They had successfully used this question against the Pharisees, who could not come up with an answer.”¹

In our study of Mark, every time somebody questioned Jesus to trap him, failed. This attempt to trap Jesus with this question about the resurrection will also fail.

Deut 25:5, 6

5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.

6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

This is the reference the Sadducees used when questioning Jesus. In essence a man with six brothers marries a woman and dies without a son. Each of his brothers marries his widow, but each one dies without any sons being born to the woman, who ultimately dies. The question Jesus was supposed to answer is, “At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Years ago, I saw for the first time a movie titled, MY Cousin Vinny. The character that played Vinny was Joe Pesci. He was a lawyer, and he had to represent his cousin in a murder trial with no actual experience. He had a girlfriend he was supposed to marry when he won his first case. His girlfriend was an excellent mechanic. She was called to the witness stand to testify as an expert witness. The prosecuting attorney thought he could disqualify her. Vinny jumped up and sat on a table and said watch this. His girlfriend proceeded to blow the mind of the prosecuting attorney who accepted her testimony as an expert witness.

I shared that story because we also can sit back and watch how Jesus proved himself as an expert witness in answering their question.

Mark 12:24-27

24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

26 Now about the dead rising– have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

It’s possible that some of you don’t understand Jesus’ answer, especially when it comes to your marriage when you get to heaven. “Jesus’ statement does not mean that people won’t recognize their spouses in the coming kingdom. It simply means that God’s new order will not be a direct extension of this life and that the same physical and natural rules won’t apply. Because the Sadducees believed only in the Pentateuch (Genesis – Deuteronomy), Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 to prove that there is life after death. God spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob years after their deaths as if they still lived. God’s covenant with all people exists beyond death.” ²

Jesus had no sooner ended his dialog with the Sadducees, that a teacher of the law, which had overheard the debate between Jesus and the Sadducees, asked Jesus a question. “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Mark 12:29-34

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.

33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

In the Gospel of Luke, the 10^th chapter we find an addition to this account found only in Luke. After Jesus informs the teacher of the law he was not far from the kingdom of heaven, in the account in Luke this expert in the law, wanting to justify himself, asks Jesus a second question, “who is my neighbor? From that question we get the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30-37. A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was robbed, beaten, and left half dead. A priest and Levite came where the man was but didn’t help him but passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Samaritan came upon him, had pity for him, and cared for him. He put him on his donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. He paid the innkeeper two denarii to care for the man, and as he left, he said when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense.

Luke 10:36, 37

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

It seems like the educated religious leaders are always trying to trap Jesus with a question. So, Jesus asked them a question.

Mark 12:35-37

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?

36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”

37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.

“Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 and asked them to explain how David’s son could also be David’s Lord. The Jews believed that the Messiah would be David’s son, but the only David’s son could be David’s Lord would be if Messiah were God come in the flesh. The answer, of course, is our Lord’s miraculous conception, and virgin birth.”³

Jesus then goes on to warn the people against their religious leaders.

Mark 12:38-40

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces,

39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

“Jesus warned against trying to make good impressions just for personal gain. These teachers of the law were religious hypocrites who had no love for God. True followers of Christ are not distinguished by showy spirituality. Reading the Bible, praying in public, following church rituals, and even doing church work can be phony if the motive for doing them is to be noticed or honored. Let your actions be consistent with your beliefs. Live with Jesus as your example, even when no one is looking.”⁴

We end the 12^th chapter of Mark with Jesus acknowledging the giving of a poor widow.

Mark 12:41-44

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.

42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything– all she had to live on.”

Without raising your hand, how many of us would give all the money we had, let’s say in our savings account, to the ministry one time? We are not told if this widow did this often, and even though she didn’t have a lot of money, we know she did it once, and she gave all she had.

The spiritual gift of giving goes beyond giving a tithe, which is 10% of your income. Some in the church today say tithing isn’t required but joyfully giving whatever makes you joyful. When the church approves a budget, unanimously, that says to me you are committed to meeting that budget. Giving a tithe makes supporting the budget fair. The Bible doesn’t say what happened to the widow after she gave her offering. I do know how God has blessed Karen and me down through the years as we have given sacrificially to the ministry of this church and other ministries. It’s not my purpose today to make anybody feel guilty about how you support this ministry financially. Everything we have comes from God. Hoarding what God has blessed you with effects how God will bless you in the future. Freely giving what God has given us allows God to bless us even more.

Study Questions

1. The Sadducees were a Jewish sect, composed of wealthy, aristocratic families and the hereditary priestly class. They no longer exist. Do you see any similarities between modern day church leadership? (Influence and wealth)
2. What concerns do you have about who you will recognize when you get to heaven?
3. Have you seen the movie My Cousin Vinny?
4. Explain loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself.
5. Who is your neighbor?
6. How do you understand Jesus being David’s son and Lord?
7. Why must we watch out for our religious leaders?
8. Does it make a difference whether the widow was poor or rich?
9. Has God ever impressed upon you to give above what you normally give?
10. Do you believe hoarding what God has given you impacts how God blesses you?

o divorcees?