231. Marriage at the Resurrection

Deuteronomy 25:5-6, Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40

Key Verse: Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know scriptures or the power of God."   --Matthew 22:29

The first thing we see here is that divided opinions among leadership was as much a part of Jesus’ day as ours. The break down was something like this. The religious leadership was mostly divided into two camps: the Pharisees and the Sadducees, or, the religious right and the religious left. The Pharisees would have been considered more on the religious right. They would be similar to the Orthodox Jews of today. They had conservative views of Scripture. They kept a kosher home, even today. They practice their religion zealously and they believe in the resurrection of the dead at the end of time. Later, Paul would declare himself to have been a prominent member of the Pharisees.

The Sadducees were the liberal element of the day. They would be closely related to the reformed Jews of today. They didn't believe in taking scripture literally, they were less concerned about maintaining the literal rules of the Jewish life and they did not believe in an actual, physical resurrection. You may have heard the little statement that helps a student of scripture to remember the distinction. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection, "and that is why they were sad-you-see."

For the Sadducees to be the ones to pose this ridiculous situation to Jesus demonstrates just how lightly they held Scripture in general. They had to have known it was a silly question. It was an opportunity to make sport of Jesus in their own way. They weren't approaching the subject in seriousness and Jesus had to have known this. Yet, He took the opportunity to speak about the resurrection anyway to benefit those who would listen.

Two things are clear from Jesus’ response to the Sadducees here. First of all, according to Jesus, there is life after we die. Jesus reminds them of Moses’ meeting with God at the burning bush, (Exodus 3) in which God introduces Himself to Moses as "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob" as if they still live. Then Jesus further explains Himself by saying, "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him, all are alive." (Luke 20:37-38)

Secondly, we learn from Jesus that we will not be as we are now. We will have on display our new creation. The old is what will pass away. All not only has become new already when you gave your heart to Jesus, but that newness will be competed in another new way at the resurrection. (2 Cor. 5:17) Our life after these earthly bodies have died will be different. "Those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35-36.) But that doesn’t mean they won’t know each other or won’t remember that they once were married.

If the Sadducees had known Scripture, and believed it, they would have known this, but because according to Jesus’ own words, they neither knew scripture well, nor took it seriously, they presented a foolishness that had no basis in fact. Paul warns Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:23, "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." The Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection, making their questions a waste of the Lord's time from the start.

Often, people will say, "I wish that the Lord would speak to me clearly." In truth, He has. Most of what God will ever need to say is already written in His word. Sadly, like the Sadducees, too many who call themselves Christians would also be guilty of Jesus' accusation, ""You are in error because you do not know scriptures or the power of God." His will is in His word. Come to know it well.

Hymn: "Beautiful Savior"