Luke 20:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After the Sadducees were embarrassed, the scribes, pleased with their triumph over them, endorsed Jesus as their contender.

It is noted in that context, "And when the people heard, they marvelled at His teaching."

When the Pharisees were rendered speechless by this response, the Sadducees, part of the same Sanhedrin, took pleasure in their embarrassment and quickly posed a question to Him regarding their denial of the resurrection of the dead, citing implausible outcomes they had drawn from it. Much like His previous condemnations toward the Pharisees, the Lord addressed the fundamental flaw in their beliefs. They referred to a scenario involving a woman who had been married to seven brothers according to human law. The Lord illustrated to the Sadducees that their misunderstanding stemmed from two key failures: (1) their inability to grasp the Scriptures and (2) their lack of comprehension regarding God's limitless power.

The Gospel narratives do not clearly indicate that the Sadducees participated alongside the Pharisees in this instance. It is possible that, witnessing how Jesus humiliated the Pharisees and delighting in it, they sought to have Him mock the Pharisees’ belief in the resurrection of the dead. This belief held that when the Messiah arrived, all Israelites would be resurrected and would inhabit the holy land. At the very least, Jesus’ response was well-received by the scribes (Luke 39), and the Sadducees’ defeat through His words bolstered the Pharisees (Matthew 34). The Sadducees contended that the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6), which allows a woman to have multiple husbands during her lifetime, made resurrection (as understood by the Pharisees) implausible.

The scribes who were there, secretly pleased at the triumph over their adversaries concerning the issue of resurrection, overlooked the fact that the Sadducees shared their beliefs. Their joy was evident as they addressed Jesus, affirming, "Teacher, you have spoken rightly. You have spoken rightly." The onlookers, witnessing the downfall of the Herodians, the disciples of the Pharisees, and the Sadducees, were astounded by the wisdom of Jesus.

This response was marked by such divine wisdom that even a few of the scribes could not help but show their admiration, openly affirming: ‘Teacher, you have spoken well!’

The Evangelist Mark describes that the scribe who inquired of the Lord recognized that He had responded skillfully to the Sadducees (Mark 12:23) and later voiced his admiration openly (Mark 12:32). It is possible that this particular scribe, along with others of his kind, is referenced here. Luke notes that following the Lord’s response to the Sadducees, they remarked to Him, "Teacher, you have spoken rightly." The Lord demonstrated so effectively from the Scriptures the truth of the resurrection of the dead that even His adversaries acknowledged His wisdom in that moment.