The story which the Sadducees use to illustrate their objection to the notion of resurrection is so contrived as to seem quite ridiculous. Yet the incident serves to let us see some more of the character of Jesus. His approach is not to deride as ridiculous the story and the whole objection to the resurrection. He rather treats the Sadducees seriously and gently. The real problem was not in their fictional story but in their attitude. While trying to delve into the mystery of a possible life after death, it seems they were led more by their own thinking than by attention to the word of God. Their own thinking misled them Jesus says because they misunderstood two things.

Jesus' argument may seem to us somewhat spurious, but it was according to the tradition of interpreting Scripture current in His time. His argument begins from a simple truth: God can only be the God of the living. If we accept this, everything else falls into place.

The Sadducees misunderstood God's word and neglected God's power. The Old Testament often speaks of God's power and wisdom together. The only true wisdom lies in the power of God's word.