마태복음 22장 23-33절

In the previous texts leading up to our passage this morning, there were 6 encounters he has
with the religious leaders who were questioning Jesus’ authority. They did everything they
could to discredit and embarrass Jesus, and to see if they could catch Jesus saying something
that would turn the people against Him.
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In this text another group known as the Sadducees attempt to discredit Jesus before the crowds
as well. Unlike the Pharisees who sought favor with God through their traditions and works,
the Sadducees were strictly Bible people. They were men who were very academic and
studied, but unfortunately their knowledge consisted of just the original five book of the Old
Testament. One of the main theological debates of the first century concerned the resurrection.
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees did not. Why didn’t they? They
could not find any reference to the resurrection in any of the books from Genesis through
Deuteronomy.

Jesus answers the Sadducees immediately and powerfully. Jesus begins by simply telling them
that they are wrong. Not an easy pill for the intellectually arrogant to swallow. They have not
read the Bible correctly and they have no idea how God uses His power to change people after
they die. Glorification is the theological term that represents the last step of God saving His
people (Romans 8:28-30). After the return of Christ, we receive new bodies that never grow
old, feel pain, get sick, shed tears, or experience any other conditions of our previous fallen
nature.

According to Jesus, the institution of marriage is simply for this this life and will not transition
with us into the coming glory that Jesus will bring. We need marriage on earth, but in eternity
we will only be concerned with our union and marriage to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now, Jesus
gives His final punch. He reminds the Sadducees that the resurrection is a Biblical reality that
can be found in the Torah, specifically in Exodus 3:6.

“Have you not read what was said to you by God,” Jesus asks them as He quotes from Exodus
3:6. At the time of Moses it is important for us to remember that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
had all been dead for around five hundred years. God didn’t say “I was” the God of your
fathers. He said, “I am” the God of your fathers. Then Jesus makes this emphatic statement to
the Sadducees, “He is God of the living, not dead.” May we be a people that believe in a big
God with open Bibles to live lives in obedience to him.

Prayer: Father God, may we be a people that recognizes your power and majesty and that we
would never minimize you in our lives. Help us to have an eternal mindset and to always be
able to set our minds on what is true even when it doesn’t make sense. Teach us your ways
and may we surrender to you today. In Jesus’ name, amen.