BEHIND THE BOOK Connecting to the Bible (Observation) Mark 12:18-27 (READ VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS) SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 RESOURCES: THE NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT THE PILLAR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY NIV APPLICATION COMMENTARY NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY MARK 1-8: TIM CHESTER MARK: 9-16: TIM CHESTER MARK: 1-8: JOHN MacARTHUR: THE MacARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY MARK: 9-16: JOHN MacARTHUR: THE MacARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY THE KING S CROSS: TIM KELLER The Jews have historically believed in a resurrection of three facets: 1 A national restoration of Israel as Ezekiel prophesied (37:1-14) 2 The rise of the Messiah, David s Son 3 A personal resurrection Job 19:25-27 - For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. Psalm 16:9-11 - Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Daniel 12:2 - And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. The Sadducees were an exception to belief in a personal resurrection. 1
First: Identifying the Sadducees 18 Mark introduces the scene without introducing the Sadducees to his Roman audience. This is in keeping pace with Mark s rapid recollection of the passion week. For Mark, it is what Jesus does more than what Jesus says, that proves he is God s Son. In Mark, this was true of the disciples. It was Jesus actions, his divine powers, that convinced the disciples that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Consistent with their denial of any future life, the Sadducees lived the present one as if there were no tomorrow.since they were annihilationists and believed the soul did not survive death, they believed there were ultimately no penalties for bad behavior or rewards for good behavior, which rendered them religious, theistic humanists. Therefore they had no interest in personal salvation through the Messiah (JM) The other most powerful religious group, the Pharisees, believed in a resurrection. As in the relationship with the Herodians, the Pharisees were doctrinal conservatives and the Sadducees were doctrinal liberals. Paul once used this important disagreement to his advantage. Acts 23:6-8 - Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. The Pharisees grew out of the Maccabean rebellion in the first century as a conservative religious movement intent to advance the spiritual and national life of Israel as an autonomous people. The Sadducees were motivated by temporal success and were pawns of the Romans. (Note: Since the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection they attempted to levy all the temporal life had to offer. They were thus willing to alienate themselves from their Jewish brothers, compromise their religious beliefs and align themselves with their national oppressors.) Consistent with their denial of any future life, the Sadducees lived the present one as if there were no tomorrow.since they were annihilationists and believed the soul did not survive death, they believed there were ultimately no penalties for bad behavior or rewards for good behavior, which rendered them religious, theistic humanists. Therefore they had no interest in personal salvation through the Messiah (JM). Both the Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus and joined together in their malicious attempts to eradicate him. The Pharisees wanted him to make inflammatory anti-roman comments concerning the tax (previous text). 2
The Sadducees hoped to prove him theologically ignorant in an attempt to discredit him before the people (this text) Of course, the hypothetical situation asked about by the Sadducees immediately proved their insincerity. Of Note: This is Mark s only account of Jesus exclusive interaction with the Sadducees. The Pharisees and Sadducees dominated Jewish life during Jesus lifetime. The Pharisees believe in divine sovereignty while the Sadducees affirmed human free will alone; the Pharisees believed in angels and demons, whereas the Sadducees did not; the Pharisees accepted a broader understanding of Scripture and revelation, which included both the written (Torah, Writings and Prophets) and oral traditions, whereas the Sadducees accepted only the written Torah; and finally, as this story indicates, the Pharisees affirmed the resurrection of the dead, which the Sadducees expressly denied (12:18; Acts 23:8). The Sadducean denial of angels, demons, and the afterlife derived from their exclusive reliance on the Torah, which does not set forth these doctrines (JE). First: The Sadducees Scenario 18-23 As the Herodians and Pharisees, the Sadducees also approached Jesus with an outward respect calling him Teacher. It was really false flattery. This nomenclature also raised expectations amongst the people. After all, if Jesus was really a teacher, he should certainly know the answer to this question. The Sadducees quoted Deuteronomy 25:5-6 because they held the first five books of the Law (the Torah) written by Moses to be the only Bible. The rest of the Old Testament amounted to commentary on Moses writings. They contended no resurrection could be found in those five books and this increased their opposition to the concept. The Sadducees thought the soul perished at death along with the body. No future rewards or punishments existed. Note: The Old Testament is, in fact, vague concerning the resurrection. It speaks about the resurrection but doesn t give us the kind of information Paul provided in 1 Corinthians 15. The view that typifies the OT understanding of the afterlife is not resurrection but Sheol, a netherworld characterized by a pale and joyless existence. By Jesus day, however, there was a prevalent belief in the resurrection, not only among the Pharisees but among a majority of Jews (JE). But the OT did validate a resurrection. A brother marrying his deceased brother s wife is called a levirate marriage. A levirate marriage is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow, and the widow is obliged to marry her deceased husband's brother. 3
Its intent was to insure the survival of all 12 tribes of Israel. It was to be applied only when the surviving brother was single or a widower. The principle actually predates Mosaic law, as the story of Onan (Genesis 38:6-10) demonstrates. The practice is first mentioned with reference to Onan (Gen 38:8-10), who, in order to annihilate the line of his brother, refused to have a child with Tamar, wife of his deceased brother (JE). [[[[PASTOR S NOTE: The Gen 38 example is important because it shows the levirate practice to be common among ancient people. The text deserves referencing but I m not sure I would delve into the text in a mixed or young audience. I think you can reference it without discussing it. Here s the text; you ll understand why. I don t think the theological issue of God killing people is controversial. God does this as the Scripture clearly teaches. But I do think the practical part about physical intimacy is unnecessary to the point. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother. 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also]]]]. The most popular example of levirate marriage in the Bible is Boaz s marriage to Elimelech s wife, Ruth (Ruth 2:1; 4:1-13). When no surviving, unmarried brother was available to marry Ruth, a widow, a near relative assumed the responsibility. In the Apocrypha, the book of Tobit tells the story of a woman who married seven men and remained chidless (3:7-15), a story that may have inspired the fantastic plot proposed by the Sadducees to Jesus (JE). The Sadducees example was not only intended to stump Jesus, it was also intended to embarrass the Pharisees and their view of life after death. Second: Jesus Solution 24-27 Jesus answer was wholly unexpected. Instead of being the victim of this prank, Jesus publicly rebuked the Sadducees stance on the resurrection on their lack of biblical knowledge. This was a frontal and public assault on the Sadducees integrity. His question not only exposed them as fools but also unqualified to be teachers themselves, since they demonstrated lack of understanding of the Scriptures and the power of God (JM). 4
The Sadducees lack of faith in the resurrection existed because they had wandered from the confines of Scripture. They were attempting to pick and choose based on their own desires or likes. More importantly, the phrase Is not the reason you are wrong suggests the Sadducees were not only wrong but unwilling to be corrected? Outside of the Scripture, the Sadducees had no ability to know the truth. Outside of salvation, they did not have the willingness to know the truth. The Sadducees also misconstrued God s power. If God could create humans out of nothing, he could certainly re-create humans after death. Actually, it was not the belief in a resurrection but the Sadducees lack of belief in a resurrection that was absurd. Jesus affirmed the resurrection when he began his response by saying in verse 25, For when they rise from the dead (With one word, when, Jesus affirms the authority of Scripture and demands that our thinking conform itself to his truth) To attack the Sadducees understanding of Scripture would be like saying Wall Street knows nothing about finance or the President knows nothing of politics. Next Jesus affirms that marriage is a temporal blessing that won t exist in eternity. He said, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. This text needs to be kept in context. Jesus did not say we will be angels in heaven or like angels in heaven in the general sense. We will be like angels in that we will not marry in heaven. Angels who live forever in heaven do not marry. Neither do we. Genesis 1:28 teaches that one of the purposes of marriage is to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth Since people will fill heaven and never die, there will be no need to populate or repopulate God s creation. Nor will there be any need for marriage and family relationships to pass truth and righteousness from generation to generation, since everyone will be in perfect holy union with the triune God and each other (JM). Genesis 1:27 teaches that perfectly imaging God requires a male and female. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 5
But in heaven, each gender will be complete, perfect, in and of their individual selves. So there will be no need for marriage partners to complement and complete each other, as husbands and wives do in this life (JM). In heaven, Jesus is our marriage partner. We are made whole and complete in him. According to Jesus, the resurrection is not the prolongation of earthly life but an altogether different life. Earthly concepts are inadequate to explain heavenly life. 26 - Jesus not only revealed the Sadducees ignorance concerning the resurrection but also their lack of knowledge about the Torah, their prized source of all knowledge. The text in Genesis falls within the Torah accepted by the Sadducees (JE) Jesus referenced Exodus 3:6 where God introduced himself to Moses saying I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? Of couse, at that tie, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all dead. Yet God used the present tense to describe himself as their God. It would be impossible for him to be their God if they were dead in the sense the Sadducees understood death. This meant those patriarchs still existed, still lived. For (v 27), He is not the god of the dead, but of the living. This means Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were still living at the time Jesus made that statement. (By the way, they still are) "If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are dead, as the Sadducees believe, then God s promise to them was limited to the duration of their earthly lives, which renders his promises finite and unfilled.[think about Genesis 12:3] God would not pledge himself to the dead unless the dead were raised to life The relationship [between God and his people] is the result of the promise and power of God that conquers the last enemy, death itself. Then Jesus hammered the final nail in the Sadducees coffin (no pun intended) when he said, You are quite wrong. Wrong = planao = to wander or go astray. We might say You are way off base. Interestingly, the noun is our English word planet. Of course, his response did for the Sadducees what his previous response did for the Pharisees; it only angered them all the more. They became determined all the more to kill him. Conclusion: This text ends the 2 nd of 3 interrogations of Jesus by the Sanhedrin (Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes). In his response, Jesus not only corrected the Sadducees mistaken position but positively affirms the resurrection. BUT.once again, it is not Jesus teaching that ultimately affirms his divinity and the truth of what he says; it is his actions. The tempty tomb (16:6) will verify Jesus teaching to the Sadducees and his divinity. 6
In Mark, Jesus doesn t just teach about the resurrection. He is the resurrection. As Jesus said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live (John 11:25) Eschatology is ethical. What we believe about the future has serious implications for our present living. Jesus understood this. The resurrection affords Christians hope, comfort and joy in the midst of hopelessness, dismay and heartache. There will come a time when He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Rev 21:4). That will be a wonderful day! For Your Consideration: 1 Who are the Sadducees? 2 How do they differ from the Pharisees? 3 What does Jesus answer say about now and eternity? Eternal life is not the extension of human life. Actually, only God is eternal. Jesus view of eternal life is that a) it begins now and b) it is actually abundant life, the abundance of which is realized in heaven and c) Heaven is not the extension of life as we know it now. It is beyond comparison. 4 In Mark, Jesus actions prove he is God s Son. How important are our actions in providing proof of God? If God is real if the resurrection is real, we will live like it. Of our salvation? We need to live righteously as proof to ourselves of our salvation. It also proves to the world that Jesus makes a difference. Of the worth of the gospel? Fighting temptation proves we value the gospel more than sin. 5 How does hope in the resurrection help us maintain spiritual vitality and decrease our willingness to compromise on biblical truth? If we believe Jesus is coming and will right every wrong, we don t have to get even or take revenge; we are willing to suffer for truth temporarily knowing that heaven will be forever. 6 The pastor often says Eschatology is ethical meaning what we believe or don t believe about the future affects the way we live now. How did the Sadducees eschatology affect their living? They were theological liberals. They did not believe all the Bible. They lived as they pleased without consideration of God s expectations. 6 The Sadducees accepted the Torah, the first five books of the Bible as Scripture. The rest was just commentary. What s wrong with the Sadducees pick and choose method of 7
interpreting Scripture? We will, of course, choose what we like and reject what we don t like. But different people like and dislike different things. So it makes people the final approval of God s Word. Adam thought like that and remember where it got him and us. 4 When we are proven wrong, how does our pride demonstrate an unwillingness to be corrected? We try to change the discussion. We respond hatefully to a person. We try to prove the other person wrong. We point out their vices. 5 What ultimate act did Jesus perform to validate his teaching on the resurrection? He was resurrected. What does the resurrection mean to us? We are forgiven. We will one day stand before God. Behind the Book is only one aspect of Heritage s teaching ministry which seeks to employ our church s mission statement: Connecting to God, Growing with Others and Impacting the world. On Wednesday evenings we connect to Sunday morning s Bible passage and discover what it says through in-depth Bible study. Sunday morning in corporate worship (9:30am) we grow from the passage by learning what it means for our daily living. In Community Groups (8:30 & 10:45am) we practically apply the text, being impacted by it and learning to impact the world with it. CGI provides a balanced approach to life and Bible study; an upward look (Connect), an inward look (Grow) and an outward look (Impact) ensuring that our mission fulfils our vision to be a God-centered, Great Commission congregation. It s a well-known and beneficial way to approach the Bible Connect/Observation, Grow/Interpretation, Impact/Application. It s also a Trinitarian approach to Scripture: Connecting to the Father, Growing in Christ and Impacting the world by the Spirit, so that the way we study the Bible daily reminds us about who our God is and how he is unique among all religions of the world 8