BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH

But Jesus answered them, “you are wrong, you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29)

The Sadducees came to Jesus and presented before Jesus a problem that was quite logical. The question has to do with the post-resurrection plight of a woman who was married to seven brothers according to the Levirate marriage law. They wanted to know whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Today we may immediately put the Sadducees on the wrong side because we read Jesus’ response to their question. However, anyone who lived in that culture and did not hear the answer of Jesus would have truly appreciated the absolute logic in the problem and the question the Sadducees presented before Jesus. The general public would have heard their case and concluded that they were right. Yet, Jesus looked straight at them and said, “you are wrong”(vs.29). Then Jesus went on to give a two-sided reason and they are interconnected, “you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God”. So, this is the reason why they were wrong but having said that we cannot brush aside the logic in their argument. But Jesus was not carried away by their logic, He made clear the fallacy of their logic when exposed under the supremacy of God's Word and His power. The Sadducees relied upon their logic but they failed to know the Word and God’s power, of course, one could only know the power of God through the Word of God and they missed both. There is a very important principle to note here: all that is logical to us need not be theological. If we go only with the logic then often God’s verdict will be “you are wrong”. The only way to escape this danger of going wrong is to bring our logic in submission to God’s Word and His power. Reason must stand in submission to the revelation so that we can avoid the danger of going ‘wrong’. Are you about to decide on or do something simply because that’s the logical way for you? Have you reasoned your decision or action in the light of God’s revelation and His power? Beware! You could be 'wrong' with the best logical conclusion you are currently contemplating for an apparent problem known only to you. Many times we strive to make logical solutions and move without knowing that God is powerful enough to do far above and beyond our most logical conclusions and solutions.

-Pastor