A Question of Eternity
They continue to line up to confront Jesus. It's almost like whack a mole. The Sadducees pop up next and to some, it may seem that they have storyboarded a careful question that they believe represents a definitive argument against resurrection to trip Jesus up. It can seem like its a question out of a Sadduceeic think-tank for this very purpose.
I think it's deeper. I think that this argument is core doctrine for the Sadducees. The question has not just arisen for this occasion; it sits at the very base of their theology. It is a pillar holding up their entire viewpoint and Jesus crumbles it in a instance. The funny thing is, the scribes are supposed to be, in this case on the side of the Sadducees. But you can just imagine the fist-pumps as Jesus summarily dismantles their arguments using only their belief system - the Torah alone (which is all they believed to be doctrine).
At the end of this exchange, the scribes high-five Jesus. He had just accomplished something they could not conceive of, and they couldn't help but celebrate. I'm sure even the scribes are thinking at the end of this: whoops, we're not supposed to be on His side, and they fade back into the crowd.
Note for A Question of Eternity
Episode Link:
https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/a-question-of-eternity/
