Matthew Henry Commentary Mark 12:18-27

"And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man`s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed; and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise: and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in [the place concerning] the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I [am] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err." — Mark 12:18-27 (ASV)

A right knowledge of Scripture, as the fountain from where all revealed religion now flows, and the foundation on which it is built, is the best safeguard against error. Christ refuted the objection of the Sadducees, who were the scoffing unbelievers of that day, by setting the doctrine of the future state in a true light. The relationship between husband and wife, though established in the earthly paradise, will not be known in the heavenly one.

It is no wonder if we confuse ourselves with foolish errors when we form our ideas of the world of spirits by the affairs of this world of sense. It is absurd to think that the living God should be the portion and happiness of a man if he is forever dead. Therefore, it is certain that Abraham's soul exists and acts, even though it is now temporarily separated from the body.

Those who deny the resurrection err greatly and should be told so. Let us seek to pass through this dying world, with a joyful hope of eternal happiness, and of a glorious resurrection.