Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection. They considered only the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah) as authoritative, and claimed that they did not teach about resurrection. Their trick question had to do with an Old Testament provision for Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5; see also Ruth 3:9; 4:10). They gave a case study (probably cooked up) of a woman who had seven husbands who were brothers, one after another. The question was: “At the resurrection, whose wife will she be?” (Mark 12:23). This was not an innocent question; it was meant to trap Jesus (and perhaps also give a side dig at the Pharisees).

Jesus gave a fairly long answer. First, He confirmed that there would be a resurrection and an afterlife (“When the dead rise”; v. 25). He used Scripture—from the Torah of Moses itself (Exodus 3:6)—to explain this, using the term “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (v. 26). God is present with all generations, even those from the past. He is the God of the living (v. 27).

Second, He showed that their idea of heaven was wrong. There would be a different order: there would be no marriage, and people would be like the angels (v. 25), which the Sadducees didn’t believe in (Acts 23:8). The only family in heaven would be the family of God where God was the Father and everyone would be His child; all would be brothers and sisters in Christ. There would no longer be a need for marriage, as there would be no need to procreate as on earth (Genesis 1:28; 9:1).

The Lord’s answer challenged the distorted beliefs and thinking of the Sadducees. This was sweet news to the shrewd Pharisees (teachers of the law), who responded, “Well said, teacher!” (Luke 20:39). For a moment, they forgot their own mission to entrap Jesus and commended Him. Why? They were opposed to the Sadducees on doctrinal issues (see Paul’s use of this division for his own defence in Acts 23:6–10). But Jesus did not accept the compliment. He knew their wicked hearts.

Jesus faulted the Sadducees for their ignorance about two things: God’s Word and God’s power (Mark 12:24). They knew neither God’s truth nor His almighty power. Their rejection of the resurrection was an indication of their ignorance. They thought they had figured out everything in God’s Word and understood all He could do, when in fact they knew nothing.