Mark 12:24

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 12:24 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?
Mark 12:24 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
24Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Jesus answering said unto them, etc..] Which they thought he was not able to do, but would have been silenced at once by them, as many of their antagonists had been: do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God? what is expressed in Matthew affirmatively, is here put by way of interrogation, which, with the Jews, was a more vehement way of affirming; (see Gill on “<402229>Matthew 22:29”).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this passage fully explained in the notes at Matthew 22:23-33. Mark 12:25 Are as the angels - That is, as the angels in respect to connections and relations. What those connections and relations may be we know not, but this passage teaches that the special relation of “marriage” will not exist. It does not affirm, however, that there will be no recollection of former marriages, or no recognition of each other as having existed in this tender relation. Mark 12:26 How in the bush - At the burning bush. See Exodus 3:16. The meaning is, “in that part of the book of Exodus which contains the account of the burning bush. When there were no chapters and verses, it was the easiest way of quoting…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:24-27 Jesus’ response had two elements. First, he rebuked the Sadducees’ ignorance of the Scriptures (i.e., the Old Testament), where the resurrection of the dead is referred to most clearly in the Prophets (Isa 26:19; Ezek 37:1-14) and the Writings (Job 19:26; Pss 16:9-11; 49:15; 73:23-26; Dan 12:2). However, the Sadducees accepted only the Torah (Genesis—Deuteronomy), so Jesus answered them from the Torah. The reference to God as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (see Exod 3:6, 15-16) showed that God’s covenant with the patriarchs could not be broken by death. They were still alive (Matt 8:11-12; 13:17; Luke 16:19-31; John 8:56), for God is the God of the…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Do: As the five books of Moses were the only scriptures which the Sadducees admitted as Divine, our Lord confutes them by an appeal to these books, and proves that they were ignorant of those very writings which they professed to hold sacred. He not only rectified their opinions, but so explained the doctrine as to overthrow the erroneous decision of the Pharisees, that if two brothers married one woman, she should be restored at the resurrection to the first. Isa 8:20; Jer 8:7-9; Hos 6:6, Hos 8:12; Mat 22:29; Joh 5:39, Joh 20:9; Act 17:11; Rom 15:4; Ti2 3:15-17 because: Job 19:25-27; Isa 25:8, Isa 26:19; Eze 37:1-14; Dan 12:2; Hos 6:2, Hos 13:14 neither: Mar 10:27; Gen 18:14; Jer 32:17; Luk…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification