Mark 12:27

He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

He is {G2076} not {G3756} the God {G2316} of the dead {G3498}, but {G235} the God {G2316} of the living {G2198}: ye {G5210} therefore {G3767} do {G4105} greatly {G4183} err {G4105}.

He is God not of the dead, but of the living! You are going far astray!"

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.

Commentary

In Mark 12:27, Jesus delivers a powerful rebuke to the Sadducees, affirming the reality of the resurrection and the nature of God as the God of the living. This verse is the culmination of His response to their challenging question about marriage in the afterlife.

Context

This verse comes from a direct encounter between Jesus and the Sadducees, a Jewish sect that notably denied the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and spirits (Acts 23:8). They posed a hypothetical scenario involving a woman who had been married to seven brothers, all of whom died without offspring, asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection (Mark 12:19-23). Their intention was to expose what they perceived as an absurdity in the concept of resurrection. Jesus first corrects their misunderstanding of the resurrected state, stating that in the resurrection, people "neither marry, nor are given in marriage" (Mark 12:25). He then addresses the core issue of their disbelief in resurrection itself.

Key Themes

  • The Reality of Resurrection: Jesus directly confronts the Sadducees' denial of life after death. By quoting from the Pentateuch, specifically the account of the burning bush in Exodus 3:6 ("I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"), Jesus demonstrates that God identifies Himself in the present tense with patriarchs long deceased.
  • God as the God of the Living: This profound declaration emphasizes that God is eternally connected to His people, even beyond physical death. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive in God's sight, affirming a continuous, living relationship with Him. This counters the Sadducees' limited understanding of existence.
  • Error in Understanding Scripture and God's Power: Jesus states, "ye therefore do greatly err." He attributes their error to two main points: their ignorance of the Scriptures and their lack of understanding of the power of God (Mark 12:24). They failed to grasp both the explicit and implicit truths about resurrection found in their own sacred texts, particularly those they held as authoritative.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living" is emphatic. The Greek word for "living" (zontōn) highlights a present, active state of being. Jesus's argument hinges on the present tense "I am" from Exodus 3:6, suggesting that God's relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was not merely historical but continued into the present, implying their ongoing existence. The phrase "do greatly err" (Greek: polu planasthe) conveys a significant and profound mistake, indicating a fundamental misunderstanding of divine truth.

Reflection and Application

This verse offers immense comfort and hope to believers, affirming the reality of life beyond the grave and God's enduring covenant with His people. It reassures us that physical death is not the end of existence for those in relationship with God. Furthermore, it serves as a crucial reminder for all who seek to understand God's Word: a true understanding requires not only knowledge of the Scriptures but also an awareness of God's boundless power and His unchanging nature. Our interpretation of God's Word should always align with His character as the God of life and resurrection, not of finality and death.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 14:9

    For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

  • Romans 4:17

    ΒΆ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

  • Mark 12:24

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

  • Hebrews 3:10

    Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Hebrews 11:16

    But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

  • Proverbs 19:27

    ΒΆ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.
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