Mark 12:24

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Mark 12:24 (KJV)

Context

Jesus spoke these words in the temple, where the Sadducees had challenged Him with a hypothetical question about a woman who married seven brothers. This group, which denied the resurrection, tried to trap Him with a scenario that seemed to make resurrection absurd. Jesus answered by naming the root of their error: they did not know the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

Meaning

The word “err” means to wander or be deceived. Jesus pointed to two specific causes of their mistake. First, they lacked true knowledge of the Scriptures. Though they were religious leaders, they had not grasped what the Old Testament taught about God’s power to raise the dead. Second, they underestimated God’s power, treating the resurrection as impossible rather than as the work of the Almighty. Their error was not merely intellectual; it was spiritual, because they approached God’s truth through human reasoning alone.

Application

This verse calls believers to study the Word of God diligently and to trust in His power, even when a doctrine seems impossible to human understanding. Correct faith requires both knowledge of Scripture and confidence in God’s sovereign ability. When we face truths that stretch our reason, we are to submit to what God has revealed and rely on His power rather than our own limitations.

Reflection

Jesus’ rebuke is also an invitation. He does not leave the Sadducees in their error but points them to the Scriptures and to God’s power. For every reader, this verse is a gentle warning to examine whether we truly know the Word and believe in the God who works beyond what we can explain.