Luke 20:27-40
27 Now some of the Sadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him,
28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to marry the wife and raise up children for his brother.
29 So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless;
30 and the second
31 and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
32 Finally the woman also died.
33 Therefore, in the resurrection, which one’s wife does the woman become? For all seven married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and the women are given in marriage,
35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
36 for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
37 But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38 Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him.”
39 Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
40 For they did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.
Sadducees’ Question about Resurrection
Misunderstanding of Sadducees
In the Gospel of Luke, the term “Sadducees” appears only here. They were an establishment group made up of the aristocratic and priestly classes, and they denied the resurrection of the dead. Now, Deuteronomy 25:5 commands that if a man dies without leaving a child, his brother should marry the widow and raise up offspring for his deceased brother. The Sadducees used this teaching as a pretext to challenge Jesus. “If seven brothers die one after another without leaving any children, and one woman has been the wife of them all, whose wife will she be in the resurrection?” What they meant to suggest was that the Law itself denies the resurrection. Jesus pointed out their misunderstanding: (1) This present age and the age to come are fundamentally different in nature. (2) In the age to come, there will be no marriage relationship, for people cannot die anymore and therefore have no need to produce descendants. (3) However, that does not mean that relationships of love will cease to exist. Rather, a more blessed form of human relationship will appear there. In the age to come, we will become “like angels,” and, in a deeper sense, “children of God.” Have you been viewing your life not only from the perspective of this present world but also from the perspective of the world to come? That is essential for living this present time in a better way.
Testimony of the Old Testament
Jesus quoted a well-known passage from the Old Testament (Ex. 3:6) to show that the doctrine of resurrection is clearly taught there. God revealed Himself as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” In the time of Jesus, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had already died and no longer existed on this earth. However, God continued to have a relationship with them. This means that although they were unseen, they continued to live in the world to come. Here, an astonishing truth is revealed: The life of resurrection is not proven by philosophical arguments concerning the immortality of the soul, but by the truth that God’s love is eternal. The greatest proof that eternal life exists lies in the unchanging, everlasting love of God. Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for the reunion with their loved ones in the world to come is promised. Are you satisfied merely with your own salvation? Let us pray that our beloved family and friends may soon receive this wonderful salvation as well.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for teaching me that because Your love is eternal, eternal life has been promised to me. Please forgive me for being satisfied only with my own salvation. Encourage me so that I may fervently share the gospel with those I love. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.