The teachings of Jesus were utterly refused by the Sadducees, as he was animated by a spirit which they refused to acknowledge as manifesting itself thus. They conceived of God as a Supreme Being, exalted above man, and unapproachable by him. Having created man, he left him to control his own life, and shape the events of the world. The doctrine of Christ directly opposed the belief of the Sadducees. The word and works of Christ testified to a divine power which accomplishes miraculous results, of a future, eternal life exalted above the finite life, of God as a Father to the children of men, watchful of their true interests, and guarding them. He taught that God was a rewarder of the righteous, and a punisher of the transgressor. He was not an intangible spirit, but a living ruler of the universe. This gracious Father was constantly working for the good of man, and mindful of all that concerns him. The very hairs of his head are numbered. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of the Heavenly Father, and man is more valuable than many sparrows. Jesus presented before them their ignorance of the Scriptures in assigning to human power that which could be wrought only through the power of the Spirit of God. He declared that their confusion of faith and darkness of mind resulted mainly from this cause, and that spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. {3SP 47.1}

Saddukæerne forkastede helt Jesu lære, eftersom han var besjælet af en ånd, som de nægtede at erkende, fordi den åbenbarede sig selv således. De forestillede sig Gud som det højeste væsen, der var ophøjet over mennesker og adskilt fra dem, så at de ikke kunne nærme sig til ham. Efter at han havde skabt mennesket, overlod han det til dem selv at styre deres eget liv og at ordne begivenheder i verden. Kristi lære stred tværtimod saddukæernes tro. Hans ord og gerninger vidnede om en guddommelig magt, som udfører underfulde gerninger, om et tilkommende, evigt liv højt ophøjet over det timelige liv, om Gud som en fader for menneskenes børn, som den, der våger over deres sande velfærd og beskytter dem. Han lærte, at Gud belønnede de retfærdige og straffede overtrædere. Han var ikke en flygtig ånd, men verdensaltets levende regent. Denne nådige fader virker hele tiden til menneskets bedste og lægger mærke til alt, som angår det. Endog dets hovedhår er talte. Ikke en spurv falder til jorden, uden den himmelske Fader mærker det, og mennesket er mere værd end mange spurve. Jesus foreholdt dem deres uvidenhed i skrifterne, idet de tilskrev menneskelige kræfter det, som alene kunne udføres ved Guds Ånds kraft. Han erklærede, at forvirringen i deres tro og mørket i deres sind fornemmelig var en følge af, at de ikke kendte skrifterne, og at åndelige ting må forståes åndeligt.