And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
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}?
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?
Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?
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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:
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?›"
Context
This verse is part of Jesus' interaction with the Sadducees in the temple courts. The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, posed a hypothetical question based on the Mosaic law concerning levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) to try and trap Jesus and discredit the idea of resurrection. They described a woman married seven times, asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus' response in verse 24 directly addresses the root cause of their flawed reasoning.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The word translated "err" is the Greek word planaō (πλανάω), which means to wander, to be led astray, deceived, or to go wrong. Jesus is telling them they have missed the mark or are fundamentally mistaken. The term "scriptures" (graphai - γραφαί) refers to the sacred writings, the Old Testament, which the Sadducees claimed to uphold but misinterpreted regarding eternal life. "Power" (dunamis - δύναμις) signifies God's inherent ability and might, capable of accomplishing things beyond human comprehension, like raising the dead and establishing a new order in the resurrection.
Commentary and Application
Jesus provides a sharp and concise diagnosis of the Sadducees' error: they fail to understand both the written word of God and the infinite capacity of God Himself. Their question about marriage in the resurrection stemmed from assuming the resurrected life would be a mere continuation of earthly life, bound by earthly conventions and limitations. This assumption revealed their lack of understanding of God's power to create a new reality.
Furthermore, Jesus implies they misunderstood the implications of the Old Testament itself, which, when properly understood, testifies to life beyond death. He goes on to explain this in Mark 12:26-27, referencing God's words to Moses at the burning bush. This teaches us that a proper understanding of Christian doctrine requires both diligent study of the Bible and a recognition of the boundless power and nature of God. Errors in belief often arise from deficits in one or both areas. For believers today, this serves as a crucial reminder to root our understanding in Scripture while acknowledging that God's power can accomplish things beyond our full comprehension or earthly experience, just as with God all things are possible.