July 16 Faithless Question

Luke 20:27-36 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” 34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But 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, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.”
 
DO you notice the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, asked Jesus a resurrection question? This was their first mistake. Hypocritically, they addressed him as “teacher” without any desire to hear his true answer? Why ask the Lord a question about eternity if you do not believe in an eternal existence? How frustrating this must have been to the eternal Son of God.
    The unbelieving Sadducees’ second mistake came in the marriage question. They referred to what is known as God’s levrite or “brother” law in Deuteronomy 25. This commanded a surviving unmarried brother to marry his brother’s widow. This was for both her care and to advance the dead brother’s lineage. The law formed an orderly process of land ownership from generation to generation. You see this law became a means of God advancing his salvation plan through Ruth and Boaz in the Ruth 3-4.
    Jesus’ teaching point is that marriage laws are to care for God’s people on earth, not in heaven. Jesus’ response taught the Sadducees – and he teaches us – three heavenly truths
    First, there is a resurrection into eternal life. He affirmed those worthy of such life “can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.”   
    Second, there is no marriage in heaven. I know most of us look forward to spending eternity in a joyous love relationship with our family, spouse and the Lord. But life in heaven will be different – much more glorious! We will be of one accord in God’s presence. Marriage will not exist because there is no need to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) in heaven. And the Father and Son will be the head of all things.
    Our next lesson will look at Jesus’ third teaching point.
 
Prayer: Teach me, Lord God, to desire your truth above all things. Prepare me, Lord, to answer others’ questions with your holy Word. Amen.