Jesus answeredIn this passage, Jesus is responding to the Sadducees, a Jewish sect that denied the resurrection. His response is authoritative, reflecting His role as a teacher and the Son of God. This moment is part of a larger dialogue where Jesus often addresses misunderstandings and challenges from religious leaders, emphasizing His divine wisdom and authority.
You are mistaken
Jesus points out their error, highlighting the importance of correct understanding in matters of faith. This phrase underscores the human tendency to misinterpret spiritual truths, a theme seen throughout the Gospels. It serves as a warning against relying solely on human reasoning without divine revelation.
because you do not know the Scriptures
The Sadducees prided themselves on their knowledge of the Torah, yet Jesus reveals their ignorance of its deeper truths. This critique emphasizes the necessity of knowing the Scriptures fully, not just intellectually but spiritually. It also points to the importance of the entire biblical canon, as the Sadducees only accepted the first five books of the Old Testament.
or the power of God
This phrase highlights the Sadducees' failure to understand God's omnipotence, particularly regarding the resurrection. The power of God is a recurring theme in the Bible, seen in creation, miracles, and ultimately in the resurrection of Jesus. This statement challenges believers to trust in God's ability to transcend human limitations and perform the miraculous.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to the Sadducees, a Jewish sect known for their denial of the resurrection.
2.
SadduceesA Jewish sect during the time of Jesus, known for their aristocratic status and denial of the resurrection, which is the context of their questioning in this passage.
3.
The Temple in JerusalemWhile not directly mentioned in this verse, the events of
Matthew 22 occur in the context of Jesus teaching in the Temple courts.
4.
MosesReferenced indirectly through the Sadducees' question about the resurrection, as they base their argument on the Law of Moses.
5.
The ResurrectionThe event in question, which the Sadducees deny and Jesus affirms, highlighting their misunderstanding of Scripture and God's power.
Teaching Points
Understanding ScriptureJesus highlights the importance of knowing the Scriptures. Believers are encouraged to study the Bible diligently to avoid misunderstandings.
The Power of GodRecognizing God's power is crucial. The Sadducees' error was not just a lack of scriptural knowledge but also a failure to comprehend God's omnipotence.
The Reality of the ResurrectionJesus affirms the resurrection, encouraging believers to live with the hope and assurance of eternal life.
Correcting MisunderstandingsJesus' response serves as a model for addressing theological errors with truth and clarity.
Living FaithOur understanding of Scripture should lead to a living faith that impacts our daily lives and interactions with others.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 22:29?
2.How does Matthew 22:29 highlight the importance of knowing Scripture and God's power?
3.What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of Scripture?
4.How does ignorance of Scripture lead to error, according to Matthew 22:29?
5.How can you apply Matthew 22:29 to your daily decision-making process?
6.What other Bible verses emphasize the importance of knowing God's Word and power?
7.How does Matthew 22:29 challenge the understanding of God's power and the Scriptures?
8.Why does Jesus emphasize ignorance of the Scriptures in Matthew 22:29?
9.What historical context is essential for interpreting Matthew 22:29?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 22?
11.Will there be marriage in the afterlife?
12.Will there be marriage in the afterlife?
13.Is marriage possible in heaven according to religious beliefs?
14.Are they like God's angels in heaven?What Does Matthew 22:29 Mean
Jesus answered• The Lord responds directly to the Sadducees, a group denying the resurrection (Matthew 22:23). His immediate reply underscores His authority as “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
• Mark’s parallel account records the same answer, “Are you not mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mark 12:24), reinforcing that Christ consistently confronted error.
• By speaking, Jesus fulfillsIsaiah 11:4, which foretells the Messiah judging with righteousness and deciding with justice.
• When Christ answers, His words carry the final verdict—echoing the Father’s declaration, “This is My beloved Son…listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5).
You are mistaken• The Greek term behind “mistaken” points to wandering off course; Jesus plainly states the Sadducees have drifted from truth.
•Proverbs 14:12 observes, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Their confidence in their view did not make it correct.
•James 1:16 warns, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.” Error is not harmless; it leads people away from life-giving truth.
• Christ’s candor models loving correction: He identifies error, not to shame, but to rescue.Galatians 6:1 urges the spiritual to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”
Because you do not know the Scriptures• The Sadducees accepted only the Pentateuch and read it selectively.Hosea 4:6 laments, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
• Jesus held them accountable for what God had already revealed. In the very writings they claimed, God declared, “I am the God of Abraham…He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Exodus 3:6;Matthew 22:32).
•2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable,” so neglecting any portion cripples understanding.
• Bullet points for practical reflection:
– Regular, whole-Bible reading guards against partial viewpoints.
– Memorizing passages anchors truth when challenged (Psalm 119:11).
– Comparing Scripture with Scripture lets clearer texts illuminate harder ones (Acts 17:11).
Or the power of God• The Sadducees’ skepticism limited God to what they could reason. YetJeremiah 32:17 exclaims, “Nothing is too difficult for You.”
• The resurrection they denied is the very demonstration of God’s power: “God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 2:24).
•Romans 1:16 calls the gospel “the power of God for salvation,” revealing His ability both to raise bodies and transform hearts.
•Ephesians 1:19-20 prays believers might know “the surpassing greatness of His power…which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.”
• Practical takeaways:
– Expect God to act consistently with His revealed character, not our limitations.
– Prayer strengthens trust in that power (Ephesians 3:20-21).
– Hope in future resurrection fuels present faithfulness (1 Corinthians 15:58).
summaryMatthew 22:29 shows Jesus correcting religious error with divine authority. He pinpoints two roots of mistake: ignorance of Scripture and disbelief in God’s power. The verse challenges every generation to study the whole counsel of God and to trust His limitless ability, confident that “the word of the Lord stands forever” (1 Peter 1:25) and that He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
(29)
Ye do err.--This is, it may be noted, the one occasion in the Gospel history in which our Lord comes into direct collision with the Sadducees. On the whole, while distinctly condemning and refuting their characteristic error, the tone in which He speaks is less stern than that in which He addresses the Pharisees. They were less characterised by hypocrisy, and that, as the
pessima corruptio optimi, was that which called down His sternest reproof. The causes of their error were, He told them, two-fold: (1) an imperfect knowledge even of the Scriptures which they recognised; (2) imperfect conceptions of the divine attributes, and therefore an
a priori limitation of the divine power. They could not conceive of any human fellowship in the life of the resurrection except such as reproduced the relations and conditions of this earthly life.
Verse 29. -
Ye do err. Jesus does not condescend to answer directly to the contemptuous question proposed. He goes to the root of the matter, and shows the great error in which it originated. These disputants are treated with patience and calm argument, because they are not hypocrites like the Pharisees, but have the courage of their opinions, and do not seek to appear other than they are. They erred, said Christ, for two reasons: first,
not knowing the Scriptures. Whatever might be the lax opinions which they held respecting the prophets, there was no dispute about the supreme authority of the Pentateuch, and these Scriptures (as Christ proceeded to prove) plainly implied the doctrine of the resurrection. Secondly, they ignored
the power of God, to whom nothing is impossible, and who, in the resurrection, would perform a work very different from what they supposed - changing the natural into the spiritual, and transforming the characteristics of the life that now is into a different and higher sphere, yet preserving identity.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
JesusἸησοῦς(Iēsous)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.replied,Ἀποκριθεὶς(Apokritheis)Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611:From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.“You are mistaken [because]Πλανᾶσθε(Planasthe)Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4105:To lead astray, deceive, cause to wander. From plane; to roam.you do not knowεἰδότες(eidotes)Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.theτὰς(tas)Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Scripturesγραφὰς(graphas)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1124:(a) a writing, (b) a passage of scripture; plur: the scriptures. A document, i.e. Holy Writ.orμηδὲ(mēde)Conjunction
Strong's 3366:And not, not even, neither…nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor.theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.powerδύναμιν(dynamin)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411:From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.of God.Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 22:29 But Jesus answered them You are mistaken (Matt. Mat Mt) 
