Matthew 22:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Following the Pharisees, the Sadducees approached the Messiah. What an absurdity! He had scarcely managed to silence the Pharisees before the Sadducees came forth, when they should have held their peace. However, audacity is so brazen and reckless that it dares to tackle the unthinkable. Thus, the Evangelist, in astonishment at their folly, remarks, “on that day they came.” “On that day”—what does that refer to? It signifies the very day when the Messiah uncovered the cunning of the Pharisees and brought them to disgrace. Who were the Sadducees? They represented a distinct sect within the Jewish community, markedly different from and even more misguided than the Pharisees, asserting that there was neither resurrection nor angel nor spirit. They were more crass than the Pharisees and entirely fixated on earthly matters. The Jewish community had various sects, which is why Paul mentions, “I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest doctrine in our creed” (Acts 26:5).

The Lord faces temptation from the Sadducees, a group that rejected the belief in resurrection or the existence of spirits and angels, standing in opposition to the Pharisees.

They are referred to as Sadducees, meaning the just, as they assert, ‘We serve God without expectation of compensation,’ believing that they do not seek the reward of the resurrection of the dead, hence they deem themselves just. According to their view, we should worship God independently of any reward.

There were two distinct sects within the Jewish community: the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees emphasized righteousness through adherence to traditions and external rituals, which they referred to as δευτερώσεις (exact reproductions); thus, the people recognized them as the separated ones. In contrast, the Sadducees, a term meaning the righteous, took for themselves a title they did not embody. While the Pharisees upheld their belief in the resurrection of both body and soul and acknowledged the existence of angels and spirits, the Sadducees, as noted in the Acts of the Apostles, denied all of these realities. These two groups are what Isaiah alludes to more explicitly, indicating that they would stumble over the stone of offense.

The Sadducees are referenced in chapter three. They disputed the resurrection of the dead, claiming it was not explicitly stated in the Mosaic texts, which were the only scriptures they accepted, rejecting any other writings. Such folly! Once the Pharisees, the most meticulous among the Jews, were rendered silent, the Sadducees, known for their many shortcomings, rushed to take their place. Instead of exercising restraint, their audacity emboldened them, leading them to act with utter shamelessness and to attempt the impossible. Since the prophetic texts present a much clearer teaching regarding resurrection, they erroneously assumed it meant individuals would rise again just as they were before death, retaining the same traits and emotions. Thus, in their desire to challenge this teaching, they approached with fabricated arguments.

And on which occasion? It was when the Pharisees withdrew and the Sadducees arrived. Then the Sadducees departed, and the Pharisees returned. Just a single day, yet filled with numerous confrontations. They approached Him intent on ensnaring Him, or, at the very least, to outsmart Him through the sheer persistence of their inquiries. Similar to how a single courageous warrior stands out among many foes, these opponents encircle Him, hoping that, if not through strength, then through their multitude, they may compel His retreat.

The behavior of the Pharisees should have served as a cautionary example, yet their arrogance is so bold and reckless that they dare to pursue what seems impossible. Thus, the Evangelist, astonished by their foolishness, notes, “AT THAT DAY THE SADDUKEES APPEARED TO HIM,” a distinct sect among the Jewish people, “THAT SAY THERE IS NO RETURN.” They denied the existence of resurrection, a future afterlife, angels, and even the souls of men. The Sadducees regarded Christ the Savior with disdain, viewing Him as a lowly Galilean, whom they felt was unworthy of their attention. However, the potent and compelling responses of the Lord to the Pharisees stirred jealousy within them for the glory of the Divine Teacher; they sought to mock Him.

Jesus’ response to the Sadducees regarding resurrection and eternal life came after His earlier confrontation with the Herodians and the unscrupulous disciples of the Pharisees, who retreated in disgrace. As had been prearranged, a group of Sadducees approached Jesus. This sect of Jews denied the resurrection of the dead and the possibility of eternal life, demonstrating a general apathy toward spiritual matters, despite their prominent roles as priests, including some who served as high priests.

The primary group of Christ's followers had previously been the Pharisees. Another influential faction, the Sadducees, composed of the affluent and religious leaders, had largely remained disengaged from the events surrounding Christ and treated Him with the disdain typically reserved for the uneducated Galileans. However, as the teachings of this Galilean Rabbi began to resonate throughout Jerusalem, and they learned of the profound insights He shared that captivated the Pharisees, the Sadducees resolved to engage with Him directly in order to challenge His understanding of the law and Jewish doctrine.

The Sadducees, as referenced in Matthew 3:7, are those "who say that there is no resurrection." The resurrection refers to the extraordinary event where the deceased body is brought back to life through its rejoining with the soul, a phenomenon that will culminate in the general resurrection at the end of time. The Sadducees denied not only the resurrection itself but also the concept of an afterlife, the separate existence of the soul upon death, and the reality of spiritual beings and angels, as noted in Acts 23:8. They were considered more crude than the Pharisees, being entirely focused on earthly pleasures.