Questioning the Savior

I have a fond memory of my former pastor explaining who the Sadducees were in the Bible. He said, “They were sad, you see, because they believed there was no resurrection.” I immediately began to laugh at the play on words. It made so much sense. 

The Sadducees asked Jesus what they must have thought was a credible question. They were, after all, part of the Jewish religious fabric of their day. They were questioning Jesus about the marriage status of a remarried widow in the hereafter. 

My heart has always been full of love and admiration for Jesus as He always responded genuinely so that people knew where they stood with Him. That day, Jesus gave the Sadducees a lesson about heaven (after a bit of chastening of course). He said in Matthew 22:29:

“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (ESV).

Ouch!

Jesus proceeded to close their knowledge gap about the resurrection and the absence of marriages in heaven. Their query had no validity. Jesus concluded the discussion, in verses 31 and 32, by bringing clear revelation about what they had believed to be true:

“Have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

Drop the mic!

I would love to have seen the look on their faces. In fact, the crowd was “astonished at his teaching” (v. 33). Jesus was a master at revealing truth about God, especially from the Hebrew Scriptures. The Pharisees, another religious sect, then decided to test Him. One of those Pharisees asked Jesus about the great commandment in the Law (v. 36). I suspect this test was an easy one for Jesus to answer. 

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (vv. 37-39).

These two commandments were the foundation of “all the Law and the Prophets” (v. 40). The power and authority of His words must have had a deep impact upon everyone present, as they do today. 

Then Jesus asked them a test question in Matthew 22:42:

“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to Him, "The son of David." 

Jesus must have anticipated how they would respond and quickly followed up with two questions that they could not answer. The final question was, “If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” (v. 45). Again, the astonishment that must have been on their faces! Verse 46 speaks volumes about the exchange:

And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. 

The Pharisees did not pass the test. 

The Bible is full of treasures for us. The Holy Spirit, our Helper (John 14:16-17), teaches us the truth that appears hidden in plain sight. Jesus had a way with words that all can appreciate. I, for one, could sit at His feet just like Mary did (Luke 10:39)!

Let us pray: Holy Spirit, open our understanding that we may know You better. Allow our hearts to receive truth from the Word of God. Stir up a passion in our hearts for You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen! 

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.