Theme

Jesus escapes yet another trap, this time from the skeptical Sadducees, through a superior understanding of God's promise and power over death.

Text

And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

Discussion Questions

1. What is a skeptic? Are there times when skepticism is warranted? Dangerous?
2. Who questions Jesus in vv. 18–23? What do they ask Him? What theological assumptions might be lying beneath their question? cf. Deut. 25:5ff
3. What two reasons does Jesus give for the Sadducees' error (v. 24)? How does He address these errors in v. 25? Hint: Knowing the Bible includes knowing what it does not say.
4. How does Jesus continue His response in vv. 26–27? What OT passage does He cite? Why would a reference to this passage be particularly forceful?
5. “A covenant is a relationship God makes with us and promises by His word." What kind of covenant has God made with you? How do you know?
6. Does it bother you that Jesus teaches there is no marriage in heaven? Why or why not? (Nb. Consider the angels).
7. How should belief in the resurrection change the way you live, right now? How should it change the way you die?

[ Bonus ] Look up the following passages in your Bible and meditate on the doctrine of the resurrection: Gen. 22:5 (cf. Heb. 11:17ff); 1 Sam, 2:6; Job 19:25; Ps. 16:9–11; 17:15; 49:13–15; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; Hosea 13:14; Lk. 24:1–7; Jn. 5:28–29; 11:25–26; Rom. 6:5; 8:11; 1 Cor. 15; Phil. 3:10; 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11; Rev. 20–22

Transcript

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