Mark 12 24

Mark 12:24 kjv

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Mark 12:24 nkjv

Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

Mark 12:24 niv

Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Mark 12:24 esv

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 nlt

Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 24 Meaning

In Mark 12:24, Jesus directly confronts the Sadducees, declaring that their erroneous understanding of the resurrection stems from a fundamental twofold deficiency: their lack of knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and their misunderstanding of God's limitless power. He highlights that their objection, based on earthly marriage concepts, fails to grasp the nature of life in the resurrected state, which is defined by God's transformative power, not by human procreation or social structures.

Mark 12 24 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' series of encounters and debates with various Jewish leaders in Jerusalem just before His crucifixion. Following questions from the chief priests, scribes, and elders about His authority (Mk 11:27-33) and a parable warning the religious leaders (Mk 12:1-12), the Pharisees and Herodians attempt to trap Him with a question about taxes (Mk 12:13-17). Immediately after this, the Sadducees approach Jesus (Mk 12:18-23) with a hypothetical scenario about a woman married sequentially to seven brothers, who all die childless, posing a supposed problem for the concept of resurrection (based on Deut 25:5). The Sadducees were a prominent priestly sect who strictly adhered to the written Torah (Pentateuch) and denied the resurrection of the dead, angels, and spirits (Acts 23:8). Their question was not genuine inquiry but an attempt to mock and discredit the belief in resurrection, believing it would lead to an absurd conclusion. Jesus' response in Mark 12:24 directly addresses the root of their theological error, leading into His detailed explanation.

Mark 12 24 Word analysis

• Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς - ho Iēsous): The subject of the action, signifying the authoritative source of the teaching. His divine wisdom stands in stark contrast to the Sadducees' flawed understanding.
• replied (ἀποκριθείς - apokritheis): A common verb for responding, indicating a direct, decisive answer to their challenge.
• Are you not mistaken (Οὐ πλανᾶσθε - Ou planasthe): This is a strong rhetorical question implying "Surely you are mistaken!" or "Indeed, you are deeply in error." The Greek verb planaō means "to wander, to go astray, to be deceived, to be in error." It denotes a fundamental, grievous spiritual misstep, not just a minor inaccuracy. It implies they are wandering from the truth, actively misled or deceiving themselves due to their flawed theological premises.
• because (διὰ τοῦτο - dia touto): "For this reason," introducing the cause of their error.
• you do not know (οὐκ οἴδατε - ouk oidate): This negates oida, which signifies knowledge gained by perception, factual understanding, or acquaintance. It's not about lacking experiential knowledge (ginoskō), but about a failure to grasp, comprehend, or retain correct information. They lack intellectual insight into the subjects.
• the Scriptures (τὰς γραφάς - tas graphās): Refers specifically to the sacred writings, the Old Testament. Crucially, the Sadducees acknowledged only the Torah (Pentateuch) as fully authoritative Scripture. Jesus will then draw proof from the Pentateuch (Exod 3:6) to counter them directly in the following verses (Mk 12:26-27), demonstrating that even within their own accepted canon, there is evidence for the resurrection. Their "not knowing" means they either misread, misinterpret, or selectively ignore what Scripture implies or teaches about the afterlife and resurrection.
• or (μηδὲ - mēde): This conjunction introduces the second, equally important cause of their error, emphasizing that both are deficiencies contributing to their mistake.
• the power of God (τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ - tēn dynamin tou Theou): Dynamis refers to God's inherent ability, might, supernatural power, and miraculous capability. Their lack of knowledge about God's power limits their understanding of His ability to establish a new order of existence in the resurrection, transcending human-made social conventions or biological needs (like marriage for procreation). They conceptualized resurrection within their limited human framework, failing to see that God's power enables a transformed, non-earthly reality.
• you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God: This phrase encapsulates the two fundamental failures of the Sadducees. Their problem is not merely an intellectual one but a theological and spiritual blindness. They failed to perceive what God had revealed about Himself and His plan (Scriptures) and His boundless ability to accomplish it (Power). These two are interconnected: true knowledge of God's Word should lead to a greater apprehension of His omnipotence, and vice versa.

Mark 12 24 Bonus section

This twofold diagnosis by Jesus highlights a common pitfall: spiritual error often arises from either a poor grasp of biblical truth or a constricted view of God's limitless capabilities. Believers are called to both diligent study of God's Word and a robust faith in His power. Misinterpreting Scripture leads to false doctrine, while underestimating God's power leads to limited faith and an inability to conceive of divine solutions or transformed realities. The Sadducees' mistake serves as a perennial warning: approach Scripture with humility and an openness to God's transforming power, acknowledging that His ways and the resurrected state transcend present human limitations. Jesus confronts them by meeting them on their own accepted authority (the Torah), showing that their problem wasn't external evidence, but their internal lack of spiritual perception.

Mark 12 24 Commentary

Mark 12:24 reveals Jesus' incisive diagnosis of the Sadducees' profound theological error. Their mocking question about resurrection marriage stemmed not from an intelligent difficulty, but from deep-seated ignorance. Jesus identifies two critical failings: they "do not know the Scriptures" and they "do not know the power of God."First, their ignorance of Scripture meant they either overlooked or misinterpreted biblical passages that implicitly or explicitly pointed to resurrection (even within their own accepted Pentateuch, as Jesus shows in Mk 12:26-27). Their limited understanding confined God to human experience. Second, their failure to grasp "the power of God" crippled their theology. They presumed the resurrected state would be merely an extension of present earthly life, bound by its constraints, rather than recognizing God's omnipotence to create an entirely new, glorified mode of existence where human relationships like marriage, necessary for earthly procreation and family continuity, are transformed or transcended. This verse teaches that a proper understanding of God requires both diligent engagement with His revealed Word and an expansive view of His limitless capabilities. Failure in either area leads to serious theological misconception and limits faith.