Today’s reading

Deuteronomy 5-7; Mark 12:1-27

Selected Verses

Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! Deuteronomy 2:29

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?” Mark 12:24

Reflections

The Lord took delight in the initial enthusiasm of the Israelites for His law. They indicated a commitment to be faithful and obedient, but God knew their resolve would not last. They would be drawn away by false gods and pagan people. Their hearts would not remain steadfast to fear Yahweh and to keep all His commandments. They would risk deprivation rather than believe God.

The Sadducees in Jesus’ day went off track for two reasons. They didn’t know the Scriptures, and they didn’t know the power of God. Why did they not know the Scriptures? The Sadducees disregarded any supernatural incidents in the Old Testament. They did not count on God’s power or intervention in human history. Since they assumed nothing supernatural was possible, they also assumed that the resurrection was impossible. They plotted to ridicule the idea of a resurrection by creating a dilemma for Jesus.

We know how that ended. The Sadducees came out looking foolish because Jesus used the Pentateuch (which they held to) to prove their position untenable. God is God of the living. To the Lord those who have died physically in this world are still alive to Him and always will be. The resurrection is true. Jesus Himself would prove it.

Think about it

The ancient Israelites veered off from obedience to God. Why? They replaced the fear of the Lord with fascination for other gods. The Sadducees erred because they did not know God's Word well and they did not believe in the power of God. They trusted their own minds and their own five senses to arrive at truth.

These sorts of spiritual maladies abound today. Beware of the dangerous roads ahead. Let it not be said of us that our hearts were not wholly the Lord’s or that we failed to know His Word and His power.

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission