About Mark: It may appear to us that the religious groups of Jesus' day have no relevance to us today. Why bother with the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees? In fact, in every period of history including our own, there are the same kinds of groups.
The Pharisees were the fundamentalists, the Herodians used religious power for political ends, and the Sadducees were liberals and materialists who didn't believe in spiritual things, denying angels, resurrection and so on.
As we have seen previously, through these encounters Jesus not only clarifies his own teaching, but shows that it is completely orthodox with the Old Testament. In the first part he presents an orthodox explanation of the Ten Commandments, and in the second part he gives an orthodox interpretation of God's name, revealed to Moses during the Exodus.
Bible: Mark 12:13-27, Questions About Paying Taxes
The Question About the Resurrection
18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that 'if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.' 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children.
Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her." 24 Jesus said to them, "Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about 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 God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
Comment: THE ORTHODOX JESUS
THE PHARISEES were "the separated ones". Every era has had people who regard themselves separately from others. They often adopt "spiritual" attitudes, perhaps fasting, sometimes celibacy, mystic activity, and a vocabulary of particular language with special meaning to themselves. They commonly become legalistic, elevating themselves in their own eyes while denigrating others. Like the Pharisees, they often regard involvement in "the world" as contaminating.
But on this occasion the Pharisees set aside their scruples to conspire with the Herodians (13, see too 3:6) against Jesus. The Herodians flourished under the patronage of Rome. The question sets Jesus up to offend either the Pharisees or the Herodians. The Pharisees hated paying taxes to the Roman civil governors; on the other hand the Herods were appointed by Caesar and profited from the taxes.
Jesus ignores their petty trap. As ever he simply teaches the Bible's attitude, which is not only perfectly balanced and wise, but plainly outstrips the ignorance of the questioners. The answer amazes the people (12:17), but it is simply a classic statement of the 10 commandments (found in Exodus 20:2-17); the first four commandments are about rendering to God what is God's; and the second six are about rendering to other people what is their due. Perfectly balanced and straight-forward. Render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. Fulfil your civic responsibilities to civil authorities, and fulfil your creaturely responsibilities to your Creator.
The following encounter with the Sadducees is important for Mark to report, because his Gospel will end with a resurrection. In quoting God's title (Mark 12:26 is a quotation of Exodus 3:14-16 and 4:5) Jesus refers to the most significant title of God in the Old Testament, found in the significant passage where God reveals his name to Moses as God calls him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt to a land of their own in Palestine. This title of God was heard in every synagogue service during the prayer of the Eighteen Benedictions.
God is God of all the living saints; including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Human death brings no interruption to a relationship of faith in the living God. Jesus simply adheres to the Word of God through Moses, and condemns the Sadducees for their ignorance of it.
Discipleship today: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" was a profound way of saying things hard to express in Hebrew. Abraham found God in Mesopotamia, Isaac found God in Palestine, and Jacob found God in Egypt. God is everywhere.
Generations come and go and each of them reaches their prime, declines and departs. Human life is limited, but God is timeless and his purposes are fulfilled spanning numerous generations. And God is the God of persons like these three. Yes he is the God of the universe, but he is also the God of flawed human beings too. And in his answer, Jesus confirms that although the tombs of these people could be identified, they were yet alive, for God was their God. Being a Christian is for life and eternity.
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