Mark

Mark 12:18–27

God’s covenant faithfulness guarantees resurrection life.

Mark 12:18–27 (WEB)

18 Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’

20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.

21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;

22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.

23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

24 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God?

25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

26 But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘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 therefore badly mistaken.”

Central Idea

God’s covenant faithfulness guarantees resurrection life.

Authorial Intent

To affirm bodily resurrection and expose misunderstanding of Scripture and God’s power.

Literary Context

This is the second trap question in the temple sequence. It continues escalating conflict and focuses on eschatological doctrine.

Historical Context

Sadducees rejected resurrection and emphasized the Pentateuch. Their question was designed to ridicule resurrection belief. Levirate marriage was intended to preserve covenant lineage.

Chapter: Mark 12

The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering

Jesus exposes the leaders' rejection of God's beloved Son, answers every trap with divine wisdom, reveals the heart of covenant obedience as love for God and neighbor, deepens the identity of the Messiah as David's Lord, and contrasts religious exploitation with costly devotion.