“When the multitudes heard this, they were astonished.” (Matthew 22:33) The Sadducees, like the Pharisees and Herodians, attempted to confuse the Lord with hard questions. They hoped “to entangle Him in His talk,”

and discredit Him with the people. And like the others, the Sadducees were completely beaten and silenced. Let’s take a look at Matthew 22:23-33 and note a couple of facts. First, absurd skeptical objections to the Bible are not a new thing—“The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying ‘… In the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.’” (vv. 23,28) They wanted to show that the doctrine of the resurrection and the life to come was absurd. They intended to destroy the doctrine of a resurrection: there would be confusion, and conflict, and disorder, if men and women were to live again after death. Don’t be surprised when you are confronted with objections to Scripture. There will always be those who make up ridiculous arguments in order to excuse their unbelief. Second, Scripture examined in sincerity will establish the truth—“You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” (vv. 29-30) The Lord proved the reality of an eternal life by using their own authority, the words God spoke to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (v. 32) Third, truth received gives believers reason for hope—“When the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.” (v. 33) The Sadducees were silenced, but the people were astonished. Why? The Sadducees were ignorant of the Scriptures, and ignorant of the power of God. Ignorance of the truth of the Bible is dangerous.

Sin cera, Erik

Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

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