In the gospel of Matthew chapter 22 and verse 29, Jesus begins His response to an attempt by the Sadducees, a religious sect who did not believe in the resurrection, to trap Him with a question from verses 24 to 28 in the same chapter. Christ declares: “…Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Many of those who profess to be “Christians” or even “Preachers” of Christ, are like the Sadducees. They don’t know the scriptures, and consequently, they make erroneous declarations due to their ignorance.
Let us look more closely at the views of this sect known as the Sadducees. In the book of Acts chapter 23 and verse 8, we learn more about their core beliefs: “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit…” By quoting Moses in Matthew 22:24, it is clear, they had, at least, what is called the Torah/Pentateuch – the first five books of the Old Testament attributed to Moses. Consequently, how could the Sadducees not believe in angels, when the writings of Moses, in numerous passages, mentions angels?
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. (Genesis 21:17)
And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. (Genesis 22:11)
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:12)
It is also noted that the Sadducees didn’t believe in the existence of the spirit.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27)
And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. (Numbers 11:17)
Also, in rebuttal of the Sadducees’ claim that there is no resurrection, in the book of Genesis, the Lord tells us of His unique relationship with Enoch which affirms the complete opposite.
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)
Chapter 5 of Genesis begins by recording for us the generations of Adam. Up until verse 18, where Enoch is first mentioned, the average age of his progenitors are over 900 years old. Enoch; however, is made worthy of special mention in verse 24, because he spends only 365 years on the earth. It is not; however, recorded that he died, like the others before him. If this seems still too ambiguous, we have this more sure word:
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)
Apart from this account in Genesis, surely the Sadducees had the writings of the prophets, and among them the record of Ezekiel. Ezekiel chapter 37 and verses 1 to 14 declares the power of God to make alive that which was dead.
Even more profoundly, the Lord had this to say about their belief that their is no resurrection:
Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (Luke 20:37-38)
* Please refer to Exodus chapter 3 and verses 2 to 6.
In light of the above verses which debunk the beliefs of the Sadducees, it is clear the foundation of their doctrine was not based upon Moses or the scriptures of their time. Furthermore, it becomes important to ask, “If they [Sadducees] did not believe in angels, spirit or resurrection, upon what then did they base their hope?”
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)
The late and former pastor Dr. Myles Munroe asserted that there isn’t any scripture in the Bible which instructs a wife to love her husband. However, this is not true. You can read my earlier post entitled “Men Don’t Need Love” that points to Titus 2:4. Individuals like Dr. Munroe lead people astray.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
In light of today’s ever-expanding offerings of “Christian” literature and teaching aides, fewer and fewer individuals, who claim to be Christians, are even studying the Bible. As a consequence, they are unable to discern the message of the charlatans.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14)
It is for this reason, every child of God is instructed to: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
And, Paul writing to Timothy declared and prophesied: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
It is no accident that the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 reaffirmed the efficacy of the scriptures. Also, in his earlier letter he instructed Timothy to: “…give attendance to reading, exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13)
Let us; therefore, brethren, study to show ourselves approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:25)