Marriage and the Resurrection. Luke 20:27-40 There were divided sects among the Jews at that time, and it was common for them to have disagreements that never reached a resolution. One group, including the Pharisees, was very traditional and orthodox in their practices and was known for their outward righteousness. They added their own opinions and man-made doctrines to the word of God and regarded the writings of “the fathers” as equally important as the scriptures. The Sadducees were more secular and politically driven. They believed they were of a higher class, rejected the oral traditions of the other sects, and limited their teachings to the first five books of the Old Testament. In their view, there was nothing in the Pentateuch that taught the resurrection of the dead.
The priests were Sadducees who managed the temple and oversaw sacrifices during Passover and other Jewish festivals, as well as daily offerings. Although they held liberal theological views and likely considered themselves intellectually superior to those who believed in unseen things, all groups united against the Lord Jesus Christ. It appears the Sadducees tried to mock the Lord and His teachings about the kingdom of God and life after death. Their question concerning Moses’ teaching and a ridiculous hypothetical situation was meant to make Jesus appear ignorant. It was a challenge from them to Him, who had declared He was the resurrection and the life, and also a subtle jab at traditional Jews.
Be cautious when people quote scriptures out of context to justify their actions or provoke arguments. They usually aren’t looking for the truth but trying to discredit those who believe the Bible is the word of God that we should follow. Today, many people do not believe in life after death. Most likely, the majority question a “hereafter.” Trying to prove to someone who says, “When you’re dead, you’re dead, and that’s the end,” that there is an eternal future without quoting or citing the scriptures as authoritative is useless. It will only lead to an “I say versus you say” deadlock.
Our personal testimony of faith in God's word and the light of the scriptures affirms our trust in Christ, an argument that opposition cannot overcome. What we have experienced is undeniable. The peace, joy, and confidence that come with faith in Christ should be visible to others. Even though many may deny the truth of the Bible, the reason is that they don’t understand what it contains because they haven’t read it with an open, reasonable, and intellectual mind.
The Sadducees’ story about a woman marrying seven brothers, who all died one after another, was their far-fetched interpretation of levirate marriage, which Moses taught. Their question was probably not sincere but a “tongue-in-cheek” way to mock Jesus and make Him look foolish. Remarkably, Jesus responded with a serious and thoughtful answer straight from the Pentateuch—one that was logical, reasonable, and sensible. Since they had quoted Moses, Jesus responded by quoting Moses at the most dramatic and life-changing moment in his life. At the burning bush, God Himself said that He is, not was, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, indicating they were still alive. When physical death occurs, a spiritual body replaces the physical body. God is the God of the living, not of the dead.
Those who were theologically opposed to the Sadducees immediately understood the meaning of the Lord’s words and said, “Master, you have spoken well!” We who believe in Christ know there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Resurrection life is different from our current earthly life. In the ages to come, there will be no marriage, no procreation, and no death. “The children of the resurrection” are those whose bodies will be raised at the resurrection of the righteous.
People need to understand that for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection is a real hope we look forward to. Heaven will not just be an extension of this life as we know it. Here, life is brief and controlled by time, with days and years marking our passage. There is a birthday and a death day that serve as the beginning and end of our earthly lives. In the future, this mortal body will be replaced by one of immortality. This temporary body will be replaced by a spiritual body that is not limited like our current one.
There will be relationships that are not limited in the ways described here. We will know as we are known. When difficult questions are asked of us, all we can do is answer as best as we can with scriptural backing and evidence, using them as a springboard to address the real issue behind the question. Typically, such questions arise from fear, anxiety, sorrow, guilt, war, and deception, which invade people's minds even when they try to avoid thinking about the future. Asking the true question they are afraid to voice would make them feel too vulnerable and scared.
In a skillful manner, the Lord Jesus asked a question that went straight to the heart of what they were trying to do to Him. Essentially, He took the offensive with a statement in the question, “Who is the Messiah?” In effect, He was asking, “Do you believe I am the Messiah or not?” Those people had read the Old Testament and knew what God's word said about the coming Messiah, what He would be like, and what He would do. He would be a descendant of David, so how could David call Him Lord if He was David’s son, a mere human? The Messiah is God, and so was David’s Lord because He is the eternal God. He was David’s son because He appeared in the form of a man. This means the Messiah was both God and Man. That is and only will be true of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Those people condemned the Lord Jesus because He clearly revealed who He was. When the truth is spoken, some may use it against the person sharing it. Do not fear men who can only kill the body; they cannot kill the truth, and this earthly body is only temporary at best. Our Lord and Savior is both the eternal God, our Refuge, Strength, Savior, and Redeemer, and a perfect Man. He died for our sins and satisfied God's justice, which demanded our death because He took our place as a man while we were still sinners. He paid the full price of redemption with His “precious blood.” Now, our Lord and Savior is alive forevermore, and because He lives, we shall live also. How blessed are those who know and love Him! How lost are those who reject Him and die in their sins!