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Matthew 22:29 - Power of God and the Scriptures.

Matthew 22:29 (NIV) Jesus replied, "You are
in error because you do not know the Scriptures
or the power of God.

Matthew 22:29 (NLT) Jesus replied, Your
mistake is that you dont know the Scriptures, and
you dont know the power of God.

Matthew 22:29 (AMP) But Jesus replied to
them, You are wrong because you know neither the
Scriptures nor God's power.

COMMENTARY PEARL

Before the coffee maker finished its
routine of pressing water through coffee grounds,
the day had already started to fall apart. My
plans disintegrated before they'd been fully
formed. Appliances started a mutiny. Decisions
demanded attention but nothing made enough sense to
give even a breath of confidence. Casual
conversations quickly turned to confrontations.
I knew only one thing for sure. I needed
to run. Not the sweat and earbuds with cute
workout gear kind of running. What I needed most was
to run to my Bible, quiet my heart, and
temporarily ignore the problems as I turned to the
problem-solver - Jesus.
This pattern had served me well before.
Trouble swells? Stop focusing on the trouble and
lean on the truth of Scripture and the power of
Jesus Christ. Is this inclination automatic? No,
it has to be intentional. I have to choose to
open the pages that will redirect my heart back
to the real truth to keep me from living in
error, worries, or powerless.
The Word never disappoints. Jesus never
disappoints. He cannot fail. Within moments of opening
the sacred pages, the sharp edges of the day's
concerns dulled. The impossible-to-figure-out
questions had the start of answers. Plans realigned
themselves according to what Jesus had wanted all
along. The dryer was still broken, but I could
honestly respond, "Oh, well," and not take the burden
back.
Jesus said it long ago in today's verse.
I am weak, prone to error, and susceptible to
bad decisions if I neglect the Scriptures.
There's power in its pages. Cynthia Ruchti
Faith Step: When you feel yourself
drifting toward dark thoughts, despair, or even a bad
mood, remember the antidote of Scripture.
[Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]

CONTEXT

Religious Leaders Question Jesus About The
Resurrection. (22:23-33)

INTRODUCTION

The Sadducees proved that the educated can
be as ignorant and as steeped in error as the
unlearned. Wise in their own philosophy though the
Sadducees were, their information on this subject was
incomplete, and there was at least one vital factor they
had not considered - the power of God.
Jesus went on to show that although the doctrine
of the resurrection may not be as explicitly
taught in the OT as some might wish, it is implicit
throughout the OT. [SDA Bible Commentary]

COMMENTARY

The Sadducees are said to have prided
themselves on being more exact students of the
Scriptures than the Pharisees, but Jesus here asserts
that in spite of all their vaunted knowledge of
the Word of God, they are profoundly ignorant.
Theological concepts based on speculative reasoning from
incomplete information are certain to lead astray those
who resort to this fanciful method of arriving
at truth. Christians today should beware lest
they, too, err, not knowing the scriptures.
[SDA Bible Commentary]

Scriptures are the only source of authority
for beliefs and doctrines. The Sadducees prided
themselves on being the strict interpreters of
Scripture. They were unwilling to believe what they
could not find in the books of Moses. Thus they
did not believe in resurrection (v. 23) and
angels and spirits (Ac 23:8). Jesus saw in them an
illustration of the fact that false doctrine is built on
a false understanding of Scripture. They were
more interested in building proper logical
connections and constructing theological puzzles to trap
Jesus than they were in discovering and obeying
the truth. Scripture calls us to careful study
of all its words so we may understand more
fully Gods teachings for us. Proper
understanding of Scripture may well correct long-cherished
ideas and astonish us (v. 33). [Disciple SB]

The Sadducees forgot that a God powerful
enough to raise men from the dead also had the
wisdom and power to set up anew a perfect order of
society in the perfect new earth. Furthermore, all
who are saved will be contented and happy with
the glorious new order of things, even though
they cannot fully realize in this life what the
future will bring forth (see 1 Cor. 2:9). [SDA
Bible Commentary]

Our ideas about heaven must be based on the
Bible. The Sadducees asked Jesus what marriage
would be like in heaven. Jesus said it was more
important to understand Gods power than know what
heaven will be like. In every generation and
culture, ideas of eternal life tend to be based on
images and experiences of present life. Jesus
answered that these faulty ideas are caused by
ignorance of Gods Word. We must not make up our own
ideas about eternity and heaven by thinking of it
and God in human terms. We should concentrate
more on our relationship with God than about what
heaven will look like. Eventually we will find out,
and it will be far beyond our greatest
expectations. [Life Application SB]

CLOSING THOUGHT [repeated for emphasis]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Psalm 139:1-6 - Awesome Attributes of God!
Part One - OMNISCIENCE

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180708-1214.html

2 Peter 1:20-21 - The Most Amazing Book Ever
Written!

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220112-0938.html

Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?

https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4875/t/is-there-anything-left-you-can-trust-

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/

Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE