Mar 12:18-27 | RWP | e4.org | There come unto him Sadducees ( ερχοντα Σαδδουκαιο προς αυτον ). Dramatic present. The Pharisees and Herodians had had their turn after the formal committee of the Sanhedrin had been so completely routed. It was inevitable that they should feel called upon to show their intellectual superiority to these raw Pharisaic and Herodian theologians. See on for discussion of details. It was a good time to air their disbelief in the resurrection at the expense of the Pharisees and to score against Jesus where the Sanhedrin and then the Pharisees and Herodians had failed so ignominiously.

‏ Mark 12:18-27

There come unto him Sadducees ( ερχοντα Σαδδουκαιο προς αυτον ). Dramatic present. The Pharisees and Herodians had had their turn after the formal committee of the Sanhedrin had been so completely routed. It was inevitable that they should feel called upon to show their intellectual superiority to these raw Pharisaic and Herodian theologians. See on Mt 22:23-33 for discussion of details. It was a good time to air their disbelief in the resurrection at the expense of the Pharisees and to score against Jesus where the Sanhedrin and then the Pharisees and Herodians had failed so ignominiously.

Moses wrote ( Μωυσης εγραψεν ). So Lu 20:28 (Ge 38:8; De. 25:5f.). Matthew has "said" ( ειπεν ).

Took a wife ( ελαβεν γυναικα ). So Lu 20:29. Matthew has "married" ( γημας ).

Last of all ( εσχατον παντων ). Adverbial use of εσχατον.

To wife ( γυναικα ). Predicate accusative in apposition with "her" ( αυτην ). So Luke, but Matthew merely has "had her" ( εσχον αυτην ), constative aorist indicative active.

Is it not for this cause that ye err? ( Ου δια τουτο πλανασθε; ). Mark puts it as a question with ου expecting the affirmative answer. Matthew puts it as a positive assertion: "Ye are." Πλαναομα is to wander astray (cf. our word planet, wandering stars, αστερες πλανητα, Jude 1:13) like the Latin errare (our error, err).

That ye know not the scriptures ( μη ειδοτες τας γραφας ). The Sadducees posed as men of superior intelligence and knowledge in opposition to the traditionalists among the Pharisees with their oral law. And yet on this very point they were ignorant of the Scriptures. How much error today is due to this same ignorance among the educated!

Nor the power of God ( μηδε την δυναμιν του θεου ). The two kinds of ignorance generally go together (cf. 1Co 15:34).

When they shall rise from the dead ( οταν εκ νεκρων αναστωσιν ). Second aorist active subjunctive with οταν ( οτε plus αν ). Mt 22:30 has it "in the resurrection," Lu 20:35 "to attain to the resurrection." The Pharisees regarded the future resurrection body as performing marriage functions, as Mohammedans do today. The Pharisees were in error on this point. The Sadducees made this one of their objections to belief in the resurrection body, revealing thus their own ignorance of the true resurrection body and the future life where marriage functions do not exist.

As angels in heaven ( ως αγγελο εν τω ουρανω ). So Mt 22:30. Lu 20:36 has "equal unto the angels" ( ισαγγελο ). "Their equality with angels consists in their deliverance from mortality and its consequences" (Swete). The angels are directly created, not procreated.

In the place concerning the Bush ( επ του βατου ). This technical use of επ is good Greek, in the matter of, in the passage about, the Bush. Βατος is masculine here, feminine in Lu 20:37. The reference is to Ex 3:3-6 (in the book of Moses, εν τη βιβλω ).

Ye do greatly err ( πολυ πλανασθε ). Only in Mark. Solemn, severe, impressive, but kindly close (Bruce).