READ THIS: Luke 20:27-40
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?
The Sadducees are religious leaders, like the Pharisees. The Sadducees were slightly different because they believed a few different things (kind of like how we have different denominations and Methodists believe slightly different things from Presbyterians). The major splitting point between the two groups was resurrection. The Sadducees did not believe there was such thing as resurrection (raising from the dead). Jesus' response shows that there is a resurrection, first because He plainly says a resurrection is coming, but then also because Moses spoke of God being the present-tense God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Clearly those three weren't dead and gone forever if God currently to this day is still their God. All those who are in God will live forever in God, even after death!
So, the point Jesus was making here is simply that there will be a resurrection. But, part of how He proves this is through the concept of marriage. Marriage in the resurrection doesn't make sense in part because of scenarios like the one the Sadducees laid out. Put simply, our way of life on earth now is nothing like how it will be in the resurrection, and our earthly concepts will change into heavenly concepts. The earthly concept of marriage translated to the heavenly concept might be everlasting covenant and relationship with God rather than with each other!
THINK ABOUT IT:
1. This is one of the hotly debated parts of scripture. I wrote above what I think Jesus might be getting at in verses 34-36, but what do YOU think? Read it again and think about it!
2. In verse 40, it says that no one "dared" to ask him any more questions. Part of the intent of the questioners was to try to trap Jesus. Do you think Jesus wants us to ask Him questions? If yes, what should our intentions be? If no, why not? Feel free to comment below!
TRY THIS:
Write down one question (or more) that you have about heaven/marriage/life in general. Consider if you might talk to God about that question! You can also always comment below or come talk to Dan/Liz!
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