Mark 12:18-27 Meaning: The God of the Living
18Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,
19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
20There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
21The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
22and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”
24Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?
25For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
26But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”
18Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
20Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
26And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
18And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
20There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed;
21and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise:
22and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died.
23In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?
25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.
26But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.
18And the Sadducees come unto him, who say there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying,
19`Teacher, Moses wrote to us, that if any one's brother may die, and may leave a wife, and may leave no children, that his brother may take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.
20`There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he left no seed;
21and the second took her, and died, neither left he seed, and the third in like manner,
22and the seven took her, and left no seed, last of all died also the woman;
23in the rising again, then, whenever they may rise, of which of them shall she be wife--for the seven had her as wife?'
24And Jesus answering said to them, `Do ye not because of this go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God?
25for when they may rise out of the dead, they neither marry nor are they given in marriage, but are as messengers who are in the heavens.
26`And concerning the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the Book of Moses (at The Bush), how God spake to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
27he is not the God of dead men, but a God of living men; ye then go greatly astray.'
18And Sadducees come to him, that say there is no resurrection; and they demanded of him saying,
19Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if any one's brother die, and leave a wife behind, and leave no children, that his brother shall take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.
20There were seven brethren; and the first took a wife, and dying did not leave seed;
21and the second took her and died, and neither did he leave seed; and the third likewise.
22And the seven [took her and] did not leave seed. Last of all the woman also died.
23In the resurrection, when they shall rise again, of which of them shall she be wife, for the seven had her as wife?
24And Jesus answering said to them, Do not ye therefore err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God?
25For when they rise from among [the] dead they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels [who are] in the heavens.
26But concerning the dead that they rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses, in [the section of] the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, I [am] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27He is not the God of [the] dead, but of [the] living. Ye therefore greatly err.
Meaning in one sentence
In Mark 12:18-27, Jesus confronts the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection, proving from Exodus that God is the God of the living.
Context
This passage takes place in Jerusalem during the final week of Jesus' life. He has been teaching in the temple, and various religious groups come to test him. The Sadducees were a wealthy priestly party who accepted only the first five books of Moses as authoritative. Unlike the Pharisees, they did not believe in angels, spirits, or the resurrection of the dead (see Acts 23:8). Here they bring a hypothetical case based on the Old Testament law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5) designed to make belief in the resurrection seem absurd. Jesus answers by pointing out two errors: their ignorance of the Scriptures and their failure to recognize the sheer power of God. He corrects their understanding of the afterlife and then provides a stunning proof of the resurrection from the book of Exodus, showing that God is the God of the living, not the dead.
Key Words
Jesus uses the verb planaō (to lead astray, to wander) when he says the Sadducees are mistaken. It is the same word used for a lost sheep stumbling off the path. Their error is not a small slip; they have wandered from the truth because they do not know the Scriptures or God's dunamis. The Greek dunamis means power, ability, strength. It is the root of our word dynamite. Jesus says the Sadducees have not considered what God's power can do. If they had, they would not confine him to their small imagination. Finally, the word for living is zaō, a present tense participle meaning those who are actively alive. God says, “I am the God of Abraham,” not “I was.” The patriarchs are still alive to him. This is not distant doctrine: the One who spoke from the burning bush holds you now with the same active life-giving power.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have marveled at Jesus' argument here. Many Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry, note that Jesus roots belief in resurrection in the power of God, not human reasoning. The Cambridge Bible emphasizes that the Sadducees' difficulty came from a carnal notion that earthly relationships must continue unchanged. Wesley highlights that God's title as God of Abraham implies a present relationship with living persons. Catholic interpreters have seen confirmation of the communion of saints: those who die in faith are still alive with God. Orthodox tradition reads the statement about being like angels as pointing to the transformation of human nature, sharing in the angelic life of praise. All agree that the resurrection is not a return to this life but a new creation brought about by God's power.
A common misunderstanding
People sometimes think this passage teaches we will not recognize our loved ones in heaven, as if relationships vanish. In fact, Jesus is only saying that the institution of marriage, given for procreation and companionship in a fallen world, will not continue. The text does not say we forget each other. It says we will be like angels, living in direct communion with God. Our relationships will be transformed, not erased. The hope is that we will know and be known fully, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12.
Living This Out
This week, when you face something that seems impossible, remember Jesus' first point: do not limit God's power. The Sadducees thought their small story disproved the resurrection. But God's power is not bound by our logic. You may be praying about a situation that feels dead, like a relationship, a hope, or a health struggle. Ask yourself: have I unknowingly assumed God cannot act? You can also trust that your life is held by the God of the living. Every person who belongs to him is safe, even beyond death. You can face mortality with quiet confidence, knowing that your name is known to the One who spoke from the burning bush.
Main takeaway: God is the God of the living, not the dead, so those who belong to him live forever in his presence.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God is so strong that he can keep people alive even after their bodies die. When we trust Jesus, we will live with him forever, just like Abraham and Sarah.
For ages 9, 12
The Sadducees didn't think God could raise people from the dead, so they made up a silly story to trick Jesus. But Jesus showed them from the book of Exodus that God is the God of living people, not dead ones. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob died long ago, but God still says “I am their God” meaning they are still alive with him. Resurrection life is not just a repeat of this life; it is something new and wonderful. We do not need to be afraid of death because God holds us close forever.
Questions People Ask
What did the Sadducees believe about the resurrection?
The Sadducees were a Jewish party that denied the resurrection, angels, and spirits. Only the first five books of Moses were authoritative for them. They held that there is no afterlife, so they tried to make the resurrection look ridiculous with their question about the seven brothers.
Why did Jesus quote Exodus 3:6 to prove resurrection?
Jesus quotes God's words to Moses at the burning bush: 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' The verb 'am' is present tense. If the patriarchs were dead and gone forever, God would not say 'I am their God' but 'I was.' Jesus shows that God's covenantal relationship with his people endures beyond death, implying their resurrection.
Does this passage mean there is no marriage in heaven?
Yes, Jesus says that in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels. This means the institution of marriage as we know it for this age does not continue. However, the Bible does not say we forget our loved ones; rather, our relationships are transformed in God's presence.
Were the seven brothers real?
Most commentators agree this was a hypothetical case designed to trap Jesus. The scenario is based on the levirate marriage law in Deuteronomy 25:5, but the Jews were reluctant to fulfill that law, so the story was likely invented to make the resurrection seem absurd.
What does 'like angels' mean?
Jesus says the resurrected will be like angels in that they do not marry or die. It does not mean we become angels or lose our individual identities. We will be transformed to live eternally in direct communion with God, just as angels do.
For pastors & researchers
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