Mark 12:27

27 He is not God of dead men, but [God] of living men; therefore ye err much.

Mark 12:27 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:27

He is not the God of the dead
This is our Lord's reasoning upon the passage; showing from hence, that since God is the God of these persons, they must be now alive in their souls, for God is not the God of the dead; and that their bodies must rise again, or he will not be the God of their whole persons;

but the God, of the living:
the word "God", in this clause, is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, but retained in the Persic and Ethiopic versions; (See Gill on Matthew 22:32);

ye therefore do greatly err;
signifying, that it was not a slight mistake, an error of small importance, but a very great one; inasmuch as it was contrary to the Scriptures, and derogated from the power of God, and destroyed that covenant interest, which God has in his people, and particularly in the principal men of their nation, who were the fathers and founders of them.

Mark 12:27 In-Context

25 For when they shall rise again from death, neither they shall wed, nor shall be wedded, but they shall be as angels of God in heavens. [+Forsooth when they shall rise again from dead, neither they wed, nor be wedded, but they shall be as angels of God in heaven.]

26 And of dead men, that they rise again, have ye not read in the book of Moses, on [upon] the bush, how God spake to him, and said [saying], I am God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob?

27 He is not God of dead men, but [God] of living men; therefore ye err much.

28 And one of the scribes, that had heard them disputing together, came nigh, and saw that Jesus had well-answered them, and asked him [+And one of the scribes, that had heard them seeking together, came nigh, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him], which was the first commandment of all.

29 And Jesus answered to him, That the first commandment of all is, Hear thou, Israel, thy Lord God is one God; [+Forsooth Jesus answered him, That the first of all commandments is, Hear, Israel, the Lord thy God is one God;]