Knowing the Word of God

Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:29-32).

The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection because it was not mentioned in the Torah (Genesis - Deuteronomy). They also did not believe in any Scriptural texts outside the Torah as being the authoritative Word of God. In other words, they chose what parts of the Bible they would believe, and what parts they wouldn’t believe.

However, Moses is also attributed to writing the Book of Job before he wrote Genesis-Deuteronomy! In the Book of Job, Job states, For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27). Clearly a reference to the resurrection of the human body.

Jesus said to the Sadducees, You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God, a spiritual and biblical trifecta! “You are mistaken,” which literally means, ‘You have led yourself astray; you have wandered off from the truth; you are deceived’.

“Not knowing the Scriptures,” which was a spiritual indictment against the priesthood which they prided themselves in being superior to all others. Is it not a matter of condemnation today for a pastor or a priest to be ignorant of the very thing they are to master, and that is the truth of God’s Word? The whole counsel of God? How preposterous that a Bible preacher or teacher would not know the Bible they are to preach and teach!

“Nor the power of God,” which was the proverbial nail in the spiritual coffin for the Sadducees. As priests, they should not only have known the truth of God, the Word of God, and the power of God, but they should have also personally experienced them in their lives. Here is a clear-cut example of pastors and priests and ministers not being men of God! If they don’t know His truth, His Word, or His power, then they don’t know Him at all.

This was a blistering indictment against the priesthood of Israel, as it is for us today. We are to be a people of the Book, the Bible, the Word of God. We are called to be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). May we honor the Lord by knowing His Word, believing His Word, and ministering His Word to others.

“Lord Jesus, may our attitude be that of David who said, ‘Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, and I will hide Your Word in my heart that I will not sin against You. Amen.”

Pastor