23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
Assault after assault by religion descended on Jesus. Now the skeptical Sadducees attacked Him.
22:23
The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,
The Sadducees denied the resurrection (Ac 4:1-2; 23:6-8). They were an aristocratic and wealthy group in Israel. They were pro-Roman politically.
22:24
saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
They referred to Moses’ reference in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 about whose wife a man would have in heaven if she married more than one man.
22:25
Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.
If a husband died, it was the responsibility of his brother to marry the widow. This is known as the levirate marriage (from the Latin levir, meaning “husband’s brother”), a law stemming from Old Testament times.
22:26
Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.
This hypothetical practice occurred with all seven brothers.
22:27
Last of all the woman died also.
The woman married all seven brothers sequentially and then died herself.
22:28
Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”
If all seven brothers equally married the one woman, who was to be her husband in heaven? The Sadducees thought they trapped Jesus in doctrinal absurdity.
22:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken [gone astray], not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
The Sadducees assumed that the resurrection would restore people to their former existence. This was a mistake.
22:30
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.
Angels do not procreate, and their existence is sexless. Marriage is an earthly institution. There will be no procreation in heaven. Heaven holds far greater life than on earth.
22:31
But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
Since the Sadducees believed only the first five books of Moses, Jesus took them to Moses.
22:32
‘I am [present tense] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were immortal because they would rise from the dead. Jesus flew in the face of basic Sadducee doctrine by saying that God was still (“I am”) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob hundreds of years after their death.
22:33
And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
Instead of confounding the crowds, Jesus amazed them.
PRINCIPLE:
Belief in the hereafter is a strong motivating force.
APPLICATION:
People with no belief in the hereafter have no motive for living other than doing what they please. Death is cessation to them. Since there is nothing beyond the grave, why live for anything but for our existence here on earth?
