Mark 12:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died.

NIV: In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.

NASB: and so the seven together left no children. Last of all the woman also died.

CSB: None of the seven left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too.

NLT: This continued with all seven of them, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman also died.

KJV: And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

NKJV: So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.

The Sadducees are asking Jesus: if a woman has had seven legal marriages, but no children, which of the seven husbands will she be married to in the afterlife (Mark 12:23)? Mosaic law says that each marriage is lawful and just. But a woman can't have more than one husband at a time—a cultural preference not mentioned in the Mosaic law. In the afterlife, presumably, the woman and all seven men would be present. According to the Sadducees' woodenly literal views, this produces a logical fallacy, one which they interpret to mean there can't be an afterlife.

Reductio ad absurdum is a tool of logic in which you follow through on an opponent's belief to demonstrate a ridiculous end. The Sadducees' use of seven husbands has no inherent importance; it's just meant to be an absurdly large number of husbands. The argument is just as valid with two husbands, whether the childless woman is widowed or divorced.

But, for the Sadducees, the question covers a greater concern. Without the resurrection, their only "life" after death is through their descendants. The Sadducees tend to be the aristocracy of Jerusalem as well as the high priests. But all the wealth and authority in the world is useless without someone to pass it on to. Their disbelief of the resurrection leaves them vulnerable to obscurity.

Jesus' answer is that the Sadducees' rigid insistence that there is no afterlife has blinded them to other, greater, spiritual truths. The Jewish Scriptures prove there is an afterlife when God declares to Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6). If He is their God, they must be alive. As for the Sadducees' question, the understanding of marriage must be interpreted through this greater spiritual truth: there is no marriage in heaven (Mark 12:24–27).

Mark 12:18–27 describes the Pharisees' and Herodians' futile attack on Jesus' base of support. Earlier, they posed a political question, trying to force Him to choose between the Roman rulers and the Zealots (Mark 12:13–17). It didn't work. Now, the Sadducees pose a theological question that seems to present a choice between their own woodenly literal interpretation of Scripture and the Pharisees' broader beliefs. These religious leaders fail to understand that Jesus doesn't need to align with any of them. If He's on any side, it's God's. This riddle is also found in Matthew 22:23–33 and Luke 20:27–40.

This chapter contains lessons taught by Jesus in various circumstances. He explains the eventual destruction of traditional Judaism, the relationship between secular and sacred obligations, the nature of the resurrection, and the most important of God's commandments. Jesus also expounds on Messianic statements in the Old Testament. Jesus also condemns the glory-seeking shallowness of the scribes, and extolls the virtues of sincere, faith-based giving.

Days before, Jesus has entered Jerusalem, hailed as a hero by the people (Mark 11:1–11). While teaching in the temple courtyard, Jesus shows superior understanding of Scripture over the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Mark 12:27–33), the Pharisees and Herodians (Mark 12:13), the Sadducees (Mark 12:18), and the scribes again (Mark 12:35, 38). Sadly, even in the instance where a scribe does understand Scripture, that is no guarantee he will follow it to its logical conclusion: Jesus (Mark 12:28–34). In contrast, a humble widow exemplifies the faithfulness and piety the leaders lack (Mark 12:41–44). Jesus leaves the temple for the last time to teach the disciples on the Mount of Olives (Mark 13). In Mark 14, He prepares for the crucifixion.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.