Mark 12:24

KJV

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} answering {G611} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Do ye {G4105} not {G3756} therefore {G1223}{G5124} err {G4105}, because ye know {G1492} not {G3361} the scriptures {G1124}, neither {G3366} the power {G1411} of God {G2316}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua said to them, "Isn't this the reason that you go astray? because you are ignorant both of the Tanakh and of the power of God?

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

American Standard Version

Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In this pivotal encounter, Jesus directly confronts the Sadducees' theological error regarding the resurrection, pinpointing their fundamental misunderstanding. He diagnoses their problem as a twofold deficiency: an inadequate grasp of the Holy Scriptures and a limited perception of the boundless power of God. This concise yet profound statement serves as a foundational principle for sound theological reasoning, emphasizing the indispensable role of both divine revelation and divine omnipotence in understanding spiritual truths.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a series of confrontations between Jesus and various Jewish religious leaders in the temple courts during the Passion Week, as recorded in [Mark 11-12](/mark/11 "Mark 11-12 - Jesus' Authority Challenged"). Following challenges from the chief priests, scribes, and elders regarding His authority ([Mark 11:27-33](/mark/11-27-33 "Mark 11:27-33 - Jesus' Authority Questioned")), and parables illustrating Israel's rejection of God's messengers ([Mark 12:1-12](/mark/12-1-12 "Mark 12:1-12 - Parable of the Wicked Tenants")), Jesus is then tested by the Pharisees and Herodians on the issue of paying taxes to Caesar ([Mark 12:13-17](/mark/12-13-17 "Mark 12:13-17 - Paying Taxes to Caesar")). Immediately preceding [Mark 12:24](/mark/12-24 "Mark 12:24 - Jesus Rebukes the Sadducees"), the Sadducees, who famously denied the resurrection, angels, and spirits ([Acts 23:8](/acts/23-8 "Acts 23:8 - Sadducees Deny Resurrection")), attempt to trap Jesus with a hypothetical scenario based on the Mosaic law of levirate marriage from [Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - Levirate Marriage Law"). Their elaborate question about a woman who had seven husbands in succession is designed to expose what they perceive as the absurdity of resurrection, prompting Jesus' sharp rebuke in this verse.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sadducees were a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, primarily composed of aristocratic priests and wealthy landowners. Unlike the Pharisees, they accepted only the written Torah (the first five books of Moses) as divinely inspired, rejecting oral traditions and many theological developments, including the concept of a bodily resurrection, which was not explicitly detailed in the Pentateuch. Their worldview was largely materialistic and pragmatic, focused on earthly life and the maintenance of the temple cult. Levirate marriage was a specific law designed to ensure the continuation of a deceased brother's lineage and inheritance within the family, preventing his name from dying out in Israel. The Sadducees' use of this law in their question to Jesus was a deliberate attempt to force a logical conundrum, believing that if resurrection were true, it would lead to an absurd polygamous situation in the afterlife, thereby discrediting the doctrine.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within the Gospel of Mark and broader New Testament theology. It highlights the **authority of Jesus** as a teacher who transcends the limitations of human wisdom and religious tradition, capable of correcting even the most learned religious leaders. It underscores the **primacy and clarity of Scripture**, asserting that proper interpretation is essential for theological accuracy, and that even the Old Testament, when rightly understood, testifies to truths like the resurrection. Furthermore, it emphasizes the **omnipotence of God**, reminding us that divine power is not bound by human logic or earthly constraints, and that God's ability to create a new reality in the resurrection is beyond human comprehension. Jesus' response also subtly introduces the theme of the **transformed nature of resurrected life**, implying that the future state will be fundamentally different from earthly existence, a point He clarifies in the subsequent verse ([Mark 12:25](/mark/12-25 "Mark 12:25 - No Marriage in Resurrection")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **err (Greek, _planáō'_):** From G4105, meaning "to roam (from safety, truth, or virtue); to go astray, deceive, seduce, wander, be out of the way." Jesus uses this term to diagnose the Sadducees' intellectual and spiritual wandering from truth. Their flawed premise about the resurrection stemmed from a fundamental deviation from God's revealed truth and understanding of His nature. It implies not just a minor mistake, but a significant departure from the correct path of understanding.
* **scriptures (Greek, _graphḗ'_):** From G1124, meaning "a document, i.e., holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it)." This refers specifically to the sacred writings of the Old Testament. Jesus' critique is that the Sadducees, despite being experts in the Law, had failed to truly "know" or comprehend the full implications and coherence of these divinely inspired texts, particularly concerning the resurrection. Their selective reading and rejection of certain truths within the Scriptures led them astray.
* **power (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** From G1411, meaning "force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself); ability, might, strength." Jesus points to God's inherent, limitless ability. The Sadducees' error was not only in their interpretation of Scripture but also in their inability to conceive of God's capacity to transcend human limitations and create a new, transformed reality for the resurrected. They confined God's actions to their own earthly experiences and understanding, rather than acknowledging His omnipotence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answering said unto them,"**: This phrase sets the stage for Jesus' authoritative response. He is not merely engaging in a debate but is providing a divine diagnosis and correction to the Sadducees' flawed theology, demonstrating His superior wisdom and authority over the religious elite.
* **"Do ye not therefore err,"**: This is a rhetorical question, implying a strong affirmative: "Indeed, you do err!" Jesus directly challenges their reasoning and exposes the fundamental flaw in their argument. The "therefore" links their error directly to the subsequent reasons He provides.
* **"because ye know not the scriptures,"**: Jesus identifies the first root cause of their error: a lack of true, deep knowledge and understanding of the Holy Scriptures. This isn't merely about knowing the words, but grasping their full meaning, their coherence, and their implications, especially regarding God's redemptive plan and eternal purposes. Despite their scholarly claim to uphold the Torah, they had missed its profound truths.
* **"neither the power of God?"**: The second, equally critical, cause of their error is their failure to comprehend or acknowledge the infinite power of God. Their limited view of God's capabilities led them to project earthly limitations onto the divine realm, making the resurrection seem illogical or impossible. Jesus implies that a true understanding of God's nature includes His limitless ability to accomplish what seems impossible to humans.

#### Literary Devices
Jesus employs a powerful **Rhetorical Question** ("Do ye not therefore err...?"), which serves not to elicit an answer, but to make a forceful assertion and diagnosis of the Sadducees' spiritual and intellectual blindness. This question is immediately followed by a clear **Diagnosis**, identifying two specific and interconnected reasons for their error: ignorance of the Scriptures and ignorance of God's power. This structure highlights a profound **Juxtaposition** between human limitations (their flawed understanding) and divine realities (the truth of Scripture and the omnipotence of God). The twin causes of their error form a concise and memorable **Parallelism**, emphasizing that both theological knowledge (Scripture) and a proper understanding of God's nature (His power) are indispensable for sound doctrine.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' declaration in [Mark 12:24](/mark/12-24 "Mark 12:24 - The Source of Error") provides a timeless theological principle: error in belief often stems from either a misunderstanding of God's revealed Word or a failure to grasp the infinite scope of His power. The Sadducees, by denying the resurrection, had effectively limited both the authority of Scripture (by misinterpreting or rejecting parts that implied eternal life) and the omnipotence of God (by assuming He could not create a new state of being beyond earthly experience). This verse underscores the foundational importance of biblical literacy and a robust theology of God's attributes. To truly "know" the Scriptures means to understand their divine origin, their unified testimony, and their implications for all of life and eternity. Likewise, to truly "know" the power of God means acknowledging His ability to transcend human logic and accomplish what is humanly impossible, including raising the dead and transforming creation. This dual emphasis serves as a critical safeguard against theological error and spiritual stagnation for believers in every age.

* [2 Timothy 3:16-17](/2_timothy/3-16-17 "2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed")
* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes Clearly Seen")
* [Jeremiah 32:17](/jeremiah/32-17 "Jeremiah 32:17 - Nothing is Too Hard for God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' incisive critique of the Sadducees remains profoundly relevant for believers today. We, too, can err if our understanding of God is not firmly rooted in the twin pillars of His revealed Word and His infinite power. Are we diligently studying the Scriptures, not just for information, but for transformative understanding, allowing them to shape our worldview and correct our misconceptions? Do we approach the Bible with humility, recognizing that its truths may challenge our preconceived notions or human logic? Furthermore, do we truly believe in and live in light of the boundless power of God? Our faith can become anemic if we limit God to what we can comprehend or what seems possible within our earthly experience. This verse calls us to expand our vision of God, to trust in His ability to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" ([Ephesians 3:20](/ephesians/3-20 "Ephesians 3:20 - God's Abundant Power")), and to allow this expansive view to fuel our hope, prayer, and obedience. When we align our knowledge with His Word and our expectations with His power, we are less likely to "err" in our understanding of His will and His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my faith or understanding might I be "erring" because I "know not the scriptures" deeply enough?**
* **How might I be limiting God's "power" in my life or in the world, based on my own human experience or logic?**
* **What practical steps can I take to deepen my knowledge of the Scriptures and expand my understanding of God's omnipotence?**
* **How does a robust belief in God's power impact my prayers, my hope for the future, and my response to seemingly impossible situations?**

### FAQ

**What exactly did the Sadducees believe about the resurrection, and why did Jesus say they erred?**

Answer: The Sadducees were a Jewish sect that denied the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and the concept of a spiritual afterlife. Their theology was primarily based on the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses), which they interpreted as not explicitly supporting these doctrines. They believed that rewards and punishments were experienced only in this life. Jesus stated they erred because their denial of the resurrection stemmed from two fundamental flaws: first, they failed to properly understand the Scriptures, which, even in the Torah they revered, implicitly pointed to a life beyond death (as Jesus would demonstrate by referencing [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob") in [Mark 12:26-27](/mark/12-26-27 "Mark 12:26-27 - God of the Living")); second, they underestimated or denied the boundless "power of God" to raise the dead and establish a new order of existence that transcends earthly limitations, including marriage.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 12:24, while a direct rebuke to the Sadducees, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus Himself. He is the living embodiment of the "scriptures" and the ultimate demonstration of the "power of God." Jesus is the Word made flesh ([John 1:1, 14](/john/1-1-14 "John 1:1, 14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the one who perfectly understood and fulfilled the Old Testament, revealing its true meaning and pointing to Himself. The Sadducees' ignorance of the Scriptures was, at its core, an ignorance of the Christ to whom those Scriptures bore witness ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Scriptures Testify of Me")). Moreover, Jesus' own resurrection from the dead is the supreme manifestation of the "power of God" that the Sadducees denied. His bodily resurrection, foretold in the Scriptures and accomplished by divine power, utterly refutes their skepticism and establishes the reality of a transformed, eternal life. In Him, both the true meaning of God's Word and the undeniable might of God's power are perfectly revealed, offering the definitive answer to all who "err" in their understanding of God's redemptive plan and His ability to bring about new creation ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 20:9

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

2 Timothy 3:15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:17

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Ephesians 1:19

And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Hosea 6:2

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee: