MARK 12:18-27
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
Text – Mark 12:18–27
18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and put this question to him,
19 saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’
20 Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.
21 So the second married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise.
22 And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died.
23 At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
25 When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.
26 As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
Introduction
In this exchange, the Sadducees—who denied the resurrection and any belief in angels or spirits—attempt to ridicule Jesus’ teaching about life after death with a far-fetched example. They pose a hypothetical case based on the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5–10), hoping to trap Him in contradiction. Jesus responds with divine wisdom, correcting their misunderstanding of both Scripture and the nature of God’s power. He reveals that life after the resurrection transcends earthly relationships, and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of the living.
Historical and Jewish Context
The Sadducees were a priestly and aristocratic sect within Judaism who accepted only the written Torah (the first five books of Moses) as authoritative. They rejected the oral traditions upheld by the Pharisees and denied doctrines not explicitly found in the Torah, such as resurrection, angels, or spirits. The levirate law they cite required a man to marry his deceased brother’s widow to preserve the family line. Their exaggerated example of seven brothers marrying the same woman was designed to make belief in resurrection seem absurd. Jesus refutes them on their own terms, citing Exodus 3:6—part of the Torah they accepted—to prove that God’s covenant with the patriarchs implies continued life. By using the present tense (“I am the God…”), He shows that the patriarchs are alive to God, for His covenantal relationship cannot be broken by death.
Catholic Theological Perspective
Jesus’ reply unveils profound truths about the resurrection and eternal life. The risen state is not a continuation of earthly existence but a transformation into a glorified reality. Marriage, a sacred institution on earth, will no longer be necessary in heaven, where all will live in perfect communion with God. The resurrection reveals the fullness of divine life and the destiny of the human person—to share in God’s eternal glory. The Catechism teaches that belief in the resurrection is central to Christian faith (CCC 988–1004). Jesus’ affirmation that “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” reveals that God’s love is stronger than death and that all who live in Him share eternal life.
Parallels in Scripture
Exodus 3:6 – God identifies Himself as the living God of the patriarchs.
Isaiah 26:19 – “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.”
Daniel 12:2 – “Many who sleep in the dust shall awake to everlasting life.”
Luke 20:34–38 – Parallel passage explaining the resurrection life.
John 11:25–26 – “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me shall never die.”
Key Terms
Sadducees – A Jewish sect that denied resurrection, angels, and spiritual realities.
Levirate Marriage – Mosaic law ensuring continuation of a deceased brother’s lineage.
Resurrection – The transformation of body and soul into eternal life by God’s power.
Living God – A title expressing God’s active, life-giving relationship with His people.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is proclaimed during Ordinary Time and sometimes in November, the month of the faithful departed. It reinforces the Christian hope in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life. In the liturgy, especially during the Eucharist, the Church proclaims this truth: “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.” Every Mass is a participation in the risen life of Christ, who conquered death and opened heaven for the faithful.
Conclusion
Jesus silences the Sadducees by revealing the truth about eternal life. Resurrection is not a mere return to earthly existence but entry into divine glory. God’s relationship with His people transcends death; those who belong to Him live forever. The living God is the Lord of all who trust in Him—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and every believer who places hope in His promise.
Reflection
Do I truly believe in the resurrection and live with hope in eternal life? The God I worship is not distant or indifferent but the Living God who sustains me now and forever. Faith in the resurrection should transform how I view death, suffering, and the meaning of this life.
Prayer
Eternal Lord, You are the God of the living. Strengthen my faith in the resurrection and fill me with hope in Your eternal promise. Help me to live each day with eyes fixed on heaven, trusting that Your love conquers death. May I one day share in the glory of the risen life with You forever. Amen.