Jesus identifies TWO problems with the Sadducees: they don't know the Scriptures AND they don't know the power of God. He then proves resurrection FROM the Pentateuch — their own strongest ground — using Exodus 3:6 ("I am the God of Abraham").

Mark 12:24-27: Jesus says "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?" Two problems: (1) Scriptural ignorance — misinterpreting what the Bible teaches; (2) Underestimating God's power — thinking philosophical riddles disprove God's ability. Jesus quotes Exodus 3:6 from the Pentateuch (the Sadducees' own most authoritative source) to prove resurrection: "I AM the God of Abraham" — present tense, not "I was." God is the God of the living, not the dead. This also refutes modern theologians who claim resurrection isn't taught in the Pentateuch. On marriage in heaven: Jesus says they "neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels" — meaning our resurrected state transcends current categories. The Sadducees' riddle fails because they don't understand the resurrection state.