THURSDAY, MARCH 2
Matthew 22:23-33
Hebrews 3:12

"… any of you (with) an evil heart of unbelief,
(is) departing from the living God."

THE DOCTRINE OF THE SADDUCEES: SCEPTICS

The Sadducees accepted the first five books of the Bible, but they failed to see the teachings about angels and the hope of resurrection. They erroneously rejected the other books of the Old Testament. This led to their denial of many teachings from the Scriptures.

They were like the sceptics who are inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions. Sadducees believed that there was no resurrection, no angels, and no spirits. They laughed at those who believed in these spiritual things. They posed difficult questions to provoke the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, they put before our Lord the woman who had had seven husbands. They asked Him, "…in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven?..." (Matt 22:28). They hoped that in this way they would be able to render the teachings of Jesus as absurd. They tried to make His chief doctrines appear ridiculous so that His disciples would give up their faith (which they had received from the Scriptures).

Today, the leaven of doubting God’s Word is introduced through the unbelief of the perfect inspiration and perfect preservation of the Scriptures. This skepticism will pervade the whole body of the doctrines of the church. We must be careful not to have faith like that of the Sadducees. The moment the written Scriptures are questioned and a low view of God’s Word is embraced, the inevitable consequence is unbelief and apostasy. Beware and be careful!

How we must thank the Lord for inspiring His Word for us! We must be immensely thankful that He preserved His precious Word to the jot and tittle. We must also be forever thankful that He established His Word for eternity!

THOUGHT: Am I sceptical about the Word of God?
PRAYER: "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth" (Ps 119:89-90).