Mark 12:26 - But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? Exodus 3:6
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What does "Mark 12:26" mean?
This verse is part of a larger debate between Jesus and the Sadducees, a Jewish sect who didn't believe in resurrection. Jesus is using scripture, specifically a passage from Exodus, to argue against their disbelief. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"But about the dead, that they are raised...": This is the central point Jesus is making. He's asserting the doctrine of resurrection.
"...haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush...": Jesus is directing the Sadducees, who prided themselves on their knowledge of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses), to a specific passage. The "Bush" refers to the burning bush incident in Exodus 3, where God speaks to Moses.
"...how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?": This is the crucial part of the argument. The passage quoted is Exodus 3:6. Jesus is drawing a specific inference from these words.
The Argument:
Jesus' argument hinges on the tense of the verb "I am." He is not saying "I was the God of Abraham..." but "I am the God of Abraham..." even though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for centuries.
Jesus' reasoning is that God's relationship with these patriarchs persists beyond their earthly lives. If God is their God, they must still be alive in some form. If they were completely nonexistent, God would say "I was their God," indicating a past relationship that no longer exists. Since God declared Himself to be their God, Jesus implies that they must be alive in God's presence, supporting the belief in resurrection.
In other words, Jesus is saying:
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
If God claims to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they must still be alive in some sense.
Therefore, there must be a resurrection from the dead.
Key Takeaways:
Use of Scripture: Jesus skillfully uses a passage from the Torah, which the Sadducees accepted as authoritative, to challenge their own beliefs.
Emphasis on God's Nature: The argument centers on the nature of God and His enduring relationship with His people.
Indirect Argument for Resurrection: Instead of directly stating the resurrection, Jesus implies it through the connection between God's declaration and the state of the patriarchs.
Challenge to Traditional Interpretation: Jesus challenges the traditional, literal interpretation of the text, revealing a deeper meaning about the afterlife.
Authority of Jesus: This exchange demonstrates Jesus' authority and his understanding of the scriptures, surpassing that of the religious leaders of his time.
The verse highlights Jesus' ability to interpret scripture in a way that supported the belief in resurrection, a belief that was contested by some Jewish sects at the time.
Mark 12:26 - But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? Exodus 3:6
What does "Mark 12:26" mean?
This verse is part of a larger debate between Jesus and the Sadducees, a Jewish sect who didn't believe in resurrection. Jesus is using scripture, specifically a passage from Exodus, to argue against their disbelief. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"But about the dead, that they are raised...": This is the central point Jesus is making. He's asserting the doctrine of resurrection.
"...haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush...": Jesus is directing the Sadducees, who prided themselves on their knowledge of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses), to a specific passage. The "Bush" refers to the burning bush incident in Exodus 3, where God speaks to Moses.
"...how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?": This is the crucial part of the argument. The passage quoted is Exodus 3:6. Jesus is drawing a specific inference from these words.
The Argument:
Jesus' argument hinges on the tense of the verb "I am." He is not saying "I was the God of Abraham..." but "I am the God of Abraham..." even though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for centuries.
Jesus' reasoning is that God's relationship with these patriarchs persists beyond their earthly lives. If God is their God, they must still be alive in some form. If they were completely nonexistent, God would say "I was their God," indicating a past relationship that no longer exists. Since God declared Himself to be their God, Jesus implies that they must be alive in God's presence, supporting the belief in resurrection.
In other words, Jesus is saying:
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
If God claims to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they must still be alive in some sense.
Therefore, there must be a resurrection from the dead.
Key Takeaways:
Use of Scripture: Jesus skillfully uses a passage from the Torah, which the Sadducees accepted as authoritative, to challenge their own beliefs.
Emphasis on God's Nature: The argument centers on the nature of God and His enduring relationship with His people.
Indirect Argument for Resurrection: Instead of directly stating the resurrection, Jesus implies it through the connection between God's declaration and the state of the patriarchs.
Challenge to Traditional Interpretation: Jesus challenges the traditional, literal interpretation of the text, revealing a deeper meaning about the afterlife.
Authority of Jesus: This exchange demonstrates Jesus' authority and his understanding of the scriptures, surpassing that of the religious leaders of his time.
The verse highlights Jesus' ability to interpret scripture in a way that supported the belief in resurrection, a belief that was contested by some Jewish sects at the time.