Matthew 22:29

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and {G1161} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Ye do err {G4105}, not {G3361} knowing {G1492} the scriptures {G1124}, nor {G3366} the power {G1411} of God {G2316}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua answered them, "The reason you go astray is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh and of the power of God.

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In this profound statement, Jesus directly confronts the Sadducees, identifying the root causes of their theological error concerning the resurrection: a fundamental misunderstanding of the sacred Scriptures and a severe underestimation of God's boundless power. His words serve as a timeless warning against limiting divine truth to human reasoning and highlight the critical importance of a comprehensive and accurate grasp of God's revealed Word and His omnipotent nature.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a series of intense theological confrontations between Jesus and various Jewish religious leaders during the final week of His earthly ministry in Jerusalem. Immediately preceding this exchange, the Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Following that, the Sadducees, known for their denial of the resurrection, angels, and spirits (as noted in [Acts 23:8](/acts/23-8 "Acts 23:8 - Sadducee Beliefs")), approach Jesus with a hypothetical scenario. Their elaborate question, based on the Levirate marriage law found in [Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - Levirate Marriage Law"), describes a woman married to seven brothers sequentially, intending to expose the supposed absurdity of the resurrection. Jesus' response in [Matthew 22:29](/matthew/22-29 "Matthew 22:29 - Jesus Rebukes the Sadducees") directly refutes their flawed premise and sets the stage for His subsequent proof of the resurrection from the very Scriptures they claimed to uphold, specifically referencing God as the "God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" in [Matthew 22:32](/matthew/22-32 "Matthew 22:32 - God of the Living").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sadducees represented a powerful aristocratic and priestly sect within first-century Judaism, largely centered around the Temple. Unlike the Pharisees, they rejected the oral tradition and accepted only the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses) as divinely inspired and authoritative Scripture. Their theological stance was highly rationalistic and conservative, leading them to dismiss concepts like the resurrection of the dead, which they believed were not explicitly taught in the Torah. Their worldview was largely focused on earthly life and its blessings, making the idea of a transformed existence in the afterlife difficult for them to reconcile with their limited understanding of God's capabilities. Their challenge to Jesus was not a genuine inquiry but a calculated attempt to discredit Him in public, using a legalistic loophole to expose what they perceived as a theological inconsistency.
* **Key Themes:** Jesus' declaration in [Matthew 22:29](/matthew/22-29 "Matthew 22:29 - Jesus' Rebuke to the Sadducees") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Matthew's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Foremost among these is the **absolute authority and sufficiency of Scripture**, as Jesus consistently appeals to God's written Word to correct error and reveal truth, urging His listeners to "search the Scriptures" as He did throughout His ministry (cf. [John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Search the Scriptures")). The passage also underscores the **omnipotence and sovereignty of God**, emphasizing that divine power transcends human limitations and natural laws, particularly concerning the resurrection of the dead. Furthermore, it highlights the **danger of theological error**, demonstrating how a flawed understanding of God's Word and His nature can lead to significant spiritual wandering and a distorted view of reality. Ultimately, this exchange serves to affirm the central Christian doctrine of the **reality of the resurrection**, a truth that Jesus Himself would soon embody.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **err (Greek, _planáō'_):** This word (G4105) signifies "to roam, to go astray, to be misled, or deceived." It implies a significant deviation from the correct path, not merely a minor mistake but a fundamental wandering from truth. Jesus' use of this term indicates that the Sadducees' theological position was not just incorrect but profoundly misguided, leading them away from divine reality.
* **knowing (Greek, _eídō'_):** Derived from G1492, this verb means "to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, to know." In this context, it refers to a lack of true, comprehensive understanding, not merely a deficiency in factual recall. The Sadducees, despite their intellectual prowess and familiarity with the Law, lacked genuine insight into the deeper spiritual truths contained within the Scriptures, particularly concerning God's nature and future plans.
* **scriptures (Greek, _graphḗ'_):** This term (G1124) refers to "a document, i.e., holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it)." It designates the sacred writings, specifically the Old Testament, which the Sadducees claimed to hold as authoritative. Jesus' charge implies that their error stemmed from either an insufficient study of these texts or, more likely, a biased and incomplete interpretation that missed the profound implications of God's self-revelation.
* **power (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** From G1411, this word denotes "force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power." It speaks to God's inherent strength, ability, and boundless capacity for action, including the performance of miracles. The Sadducees' error was in limiting God's ability to their human comprehension and earthly experiences, failing to grasp His infinite capacity to transcend natural laws and bring about the resurrection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err,"**: Jesus directly and authoritatively confronts the Sadducees' flawed reasoning and theological position. The phrase "Ye do err" (πλανάω, _planáō_) is a strong accusation, indicating that their understanding has led them significantly astray from the truth, rather than just a minor miscalculation. It highlights a fundamental spiritual and intellectual wandering.
* **"not knowing the scriptures,"**: This clause identifies the first, primary source of their error. Despite their esteemed position and supposed expertise in the Law, the Sadducees lacked a true, deep, and accurate comprehension of God's revealed Word. They had either misinterpreted, overlooked, or simply failed to grasp the full implications of the biblical texts concerning God's nature, His promises, and the afterlife, even within the Pentateuch which they accepted.
* **"nor the power of God."**: This second clause pinpoints the complementary source of their error. Their limited understanding of God's Word was compounded by a failure to acknowledge and believe in God's infinite omnipotence. They constrained God's ability to their own human logic and naturalistic worldview, unable to conceive of a God who could perform miracles like raising the dead or transforming bodies for an eternal state beyond earthly procreation.

#### Literary Devices
Jesus' response is rich with literary and rhetorical force. The most prominent device is **Direct Rebuke**, where Jesus directly challenges the Sadducees' intellectual and spiritual shortcomings with an authoritative statement, leaving no room for ambiguity. This is a form of **Polemic**, a strong verbal attack, against their erroneous theological stance. There is also a clear instance of **Parallelism** in the structure "not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God," which presents two distinct but interconnected sources of their error. This parallel structure emphasizes the dual nature of their misunderstanding. Furthermore, Jesus employs a subtle form of **Irony**; the Sadducees, who prided themselves on their intellectual acumen and strict adherence to the Law, are exposed by Jesus as fundamentally ignorant of the very truths they claimed to master. His concise yet devastating critique reveals their intellectual pride had blinded them to divine revelation and capability.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' powerful rebuke to the Sadducees in Matthew 22:29 encapsulates a profound theological truth: genuine understanding of God and His purposes requires both a diligent, accurate knowledge of His revealed Word and an unwavering faith in His infinite power. These two elements are inextricably linked; one without the other leads to theological distortion and spiritual error. The Sadducees, by limiting God's power to their human comprehension and by misinterpreting or ignoring the full scope of Scripture, created a God in their own image—a God incapable of the very acts necessary for His redemptive plan, such as the resurrection. This passage thus serves as a foundational reminder that God's truth transcends human logic and that His Word must be approached with humility and an acknowledgment of His boundless capabilities, especially concerning His promises for the future.

* [2 Timothy 3:16-17](/2_timothy/3-16-17 "2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed")
* [Ephesians 3:20](/ephesians/3-20 "Ephesians 3:20 - God's Abundant Power")
* [John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Search the Scriptures")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 22:29 stands as a timeless warning and a profound encouragement for all believers. In an age where information is abundant but true wisdom is scarce, we are constantly challenged to ensure our faith is grounded in both divine revelation and an expansive view of God's capabilities. Like the Sadducees, we can err by approaching Scripture with preconceived notions, allowing our human logic or cultural biases to limit our understanding of God's truth. We might intellectualize our faith to the point of dismissing the miraculous, or conversely, embrace spiritual experiences without diligently grounding them in the unchanging Word of God. This verse calls us to a humble and persistent pursuit of biblical knowledge, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and transform our minds. It also compels us to cultivate an unwavering trust in God's omnipotence, remembering that His power is not constrained by our limitations, our circumstances, or even the laws of nature as we perceive them. To truly know God is to know His Word and to believe in His limitless power, enabling us to live lives of faith that transcend earthly boundaries and embrace the full scope of His promises.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or theology might I be inadvertently limiting God's power or misunderstanding His Word?**
* **How diligently do I engage with the Scriptures, seeking not just information but transformative knowledge and a deeper understanding of God's nature?**
* **Am I humble enough to allow God's truth to challenge my preconceived notions, human logic, or cultural assumptions?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Sadducees deny the resurrection, and how did Jesus use Scripture to prove it?**

Answer: The Sadducees denied the resurrection primarily because they only accepted the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses) as authoritative Scripture, believing that the concept of a bodily resurrection was not explicitly taught there. They also held a more rationalistic worldview, finding the idea of resurrection illogical and incompatible with their understanding of earthly life. Jesus refuted them by demonstrating that the resurrection *was* indeed implied even within the Pentateuch, the very texts they revered. In [Matthew 22:32](/matthew/22-32 "Matthew 22:32 - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"), Jesus quotes [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob") where God identifies Himself to Moses as "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Jesus then argues that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, implying that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive to God, thus proving the reality of the resurrection from their own accepted Scriptures.

**How does Jesus' statement "not knowing the scriptures" apply to believers today?**

Answer: Jesus' warning against "not knowing the scriptures" is profoundly relevant for believers today. It cautions against superficial engagement with God's Word, emphasizing that "knowing" implies deep understanding, accurate interpretation, and transformative application, not just factual recall or casual reading. We err when we misinterpret biblical truths, ignore their full implications, or fail to allow them to shape our worldview. This can lead to false doctrines, a limited view of God, or an inability to navigate life's challenges from a biblical perspective. The passage calls us to diligent study, prayerful reflection, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to truly comprehend God's revealed will and character, ensuring our faith is built on a solid, biblical foundation.

**What does "nor the power of God" mean in this context, and why is it significant?**

Answer: When Jesus says the Sadducees were "not knowing... the power of God," He means they failed to grasp God's infinite ability to transcend human limitations, natural laws, and earthly logic. Their inability to conceive of a resurrection stemmed from their limited view of God's omnipotence; they could not imagine God doing something beyond their human understanding of procreation or physical existence. This is significant because it highlights a common human tendency to put God in a box, to limit His capabilities to what we can comprehend or what seems "reasonable" to us. Jesus emphasizes that God's power is boundless, enabling Him to perform miracles, raise the dead, and establish a new order that defies human expectations, thereby affirming the reality of the resurrection and God's sovereign control over life and death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jesus' rebuke in Matthew 22:29 is profoundly Christ-centered, for He Himself is the ultimate embodiment of both the Scriptures and the power of God. The Sadducees' error was not merely an academic misstep but a failure to recognize the very One who fulfilled the Scriptures and manifested God's power. Jesus is the [Living Word](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word was God"), the culmination of all Old Testament prophecies and types, and to truly know the Scriptures is to ultimately find Him within their pages (cf. [Luke 24:27](/luke/24-27 "Luke 24:27 - Jesus Explains Scriptures")). Furthermore, Jesus is the [power of God incarnate](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power of God"), demonstrated through His miraculous healings, His authority over creation, His triumph over sin, and most crucially, His own resurrection from the dead. His resurrection is the ultimate proof of God's power, validating the very truth the Sadducees denied and confirming that He is indeed the [Resurrection and the Life](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"). Thus, their error was, at its core, a failure to know Jesus—the perfect revelation of God's Word and the living demonstration of His boundless power—who would ultimately conquer death and open the way to eternal life for all who believe.

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.

Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

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:

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Isaiah 26:19

Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Psalms 17:15

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Daniel 12:2

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.