THE GOD OF THE LIVING

Passage: Matthew 22:23-33

Key verse: 32

NIV

Marriage at the Resurrection(A)

23 That same day the Sadducees,(B) who say there is no resurrection,(C) came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.(D) 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures(E) or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;(F) they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[a]?(G) He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.(H)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 22:32 Exodus 3:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

23 The same day (A)Sadducees came to him, (B)who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, (C)‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, (D)because you know neither the Scriptures nor (E)the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither (F)marry nor (G)are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, (H)have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 (I)‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, (J)they were astonished at his teaching.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The Sadducees who didn’t believe in resurrection came to trap Jesus with an absurd question. Their made-up story was that a woman married seven brothers in succession without bearing children, and everyone died. Their question was whose wife she would be at the resurrection. Their story reflects their view of a resurrection life. To them, it is just the extension of an earthly, physical life with many human problems. To correct their ignorance, Jesus explains both the power of God and the scriptures to them. They erred because they assumed that life after the resurrection would be the same as it was. To them, human life just ends in death, and that’s it; Life is meaningless and empty; so, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor15:32). But at the resurrection, there will be no marriage, no birth, no death; everyone will be like the angels and do heavenly things.

The Sadducees failed in understanding the written law (Ex 3:6). In it, God said, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” God is still presently their God, and they are living with Him in heaven. God is the God of the living. The resurrection of the dead brings about a different way of living for us. Physical death is not the end. Through the power of God, we can live again. The resurrection raises new realities.

Prayer: Lord, I see the realities of the resurrection. Help us to give ourselves fully to your work.

One Word: We will be changed