The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 22 Part 6 Jesus Gave The Right View Of Resurrection And Afterlife

Matthew 22:23-24  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24  Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 

The Sadducees came to Jesus with a question that they believed Jesus could not answer.

It is a question regarding the law of Moses and the resurrection.

Remember that Sadducees denied miracles, denied the resurrection, denied the existence of angels, and said that the soul dies when the body dies.

The focus of their question is what God guided Moses to write regarding a husband who married and then died without having children with his wife.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10  If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 6  And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. 7  And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. 8  Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 9  Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 10  And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed. 

This law was very specific in its application.

The brother of the husband who died was to take his deceased brother's wife and be a husband to her.

This meant he was to raise up seed with his brother's widow and that he would be given his brother's name so that the family continued on intact.

In this manner, God provided for the care of a widow and any offspring conceived with her former brother in law, would eventually help sustain and comfort her in old age.

It is clear from the text that God frowns upon any man who would not assume the duty of caring for his brother's widow and raising up children with her.

A wonderful example of this whole process is found in the book of Ruth, between Ruth, Naomi and Boaz.

All of this is pretty clear and understandable but the Sadducees added a strange twist to their question.

Matthew 22:25-28  Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26  Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27  And last of all the woman died also. 28  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 

This case may have been about a real family,  but considering the fact that the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees were seeking to entrap Jesus, it is probably a hypothetical example.

One good thing to notice in the Sadducees question is that the brothers in their example were all obedient to God's law.

This fact reminds us that it is always right to carry out our Christian duties, even if it seems inconvenient. 

Thus, it is always right and best for us to live in accord with the Word of God, as Jesus said (See Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).

The eldest surviving brother married his deceased brother's wife, and he died also without children. 

Therefore, his wife was married by the next youngest brother and this continued with all the brothers, each one dying and the next youngest brother marrying the deceased brother's wife.

Each brother from the eldest to the youngest, died in the same circumstance, having no children with their widow.

Matthew 22:28  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 

Here is the heart of the Sadducees question to Jesus: "Which one of the seven brothers would be her husband in the resurrection?"

They believed it was impossible to answer this question and that this proved their denial of all things supernatural was validated.

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 

What a powerful answer from Jesus!

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God."

The word translated "err" means to lead astray or aside from the right ways of God.

In the case of Sadducees, it means they are leading people away from the truth and into error, by denying the resurrection, miracles, angels and the immortality of the soul.

Heresy is most often tied to someone not knowing the scriptures, or failing to rightly dividing the scriptures in order to create a false, private interpretation. 

This is the error of the Sadducees.

Psalm 6:5  For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 

Psalm 115:17  The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. 

The Sadducees and modern day cults that teach "soul sleep" take verses like this out of context and twist them to say something that is not true.

In every case, the Psalmist is urging himself and those who read the Psalm, to love God today, to serve Him today and to worship Him while you are alive.

This has always been the great privilege and duty of God's redeemed children in the Old and New Testaments.

Both the Old and New Testament teach us that death is a portal to heaven and the presence of God, for a believer.

Death is the portal to the flames of Hell for the unbeliever.

Ecclesiastes 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 

The soul survives physical death (See Matthew 10:28).

Our soul will remain conscious after death (See Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 6:9-10; 14:13).

At death, believers go immediately to be with Christ (See Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

Identity and awareness continue after death (See Hebrews 12:23; Job 19:25-27).

Scripture treats humans as eternal beings (See Genesis 2:7).

These are just a few of many scriptures that speak to the immortality of our soul that God gave us.

The Sadducees lacked a proper foundation of knowledge about the scriptures which led them to promote false doctrine. 

Jesus said they did not know the power of God and this is worth noting.

That power of God is what spoke all things into existence (See Genesis 1-2).

That power of God is what governs all the universe (See Hebrews 1:3).

Romans 1:1-4  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

The very same power of God Sadducees were ignorant of is resurrection power that raised Jesus from the grave, and which is given to all who believe His gospel.

Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power by His resurrection from the dead (See Acts 2:24; 2:32; 3:15; 4:10-12; Ephesians 1:19-23).

This is the same power of God that regenerates a repentant sinner's heart and gives that person a new heart and new spirit so they can learn to walk in newness of life.

Matthew 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 

Jesus then gave clear truth to combat their error. In heaven, there is no need for marriage because all its inhabitants receive eternal life.

Procreation was necessary for this physical life on earth and God made the family a universal institution. 

However, when we are gathered  by Christ at the rapture or the resurrection of life, we will be like the angels in heaven.

The words "But are as the angels of God" refers to the manner of our new life in heaven in regard to marriage and the mode of their existence.

We will have a glorified body fit for heaven and we will worship and adore God without the constraints of our flesh.

Many Old Testament scriptures speak of patriarchs being gathered to their people, so this indicates there will be some kind of family connection in heaven.

Matthew 22:31-33  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32  I am the God of Abraham, and 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 multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 

Jesus finished exposing the Sadducees errors by exploding them with powerful truth from scripture.

Many times Jesus responded to His detractors by saying "Have ye not read...?" (See Matthew 12:3; 12:5; 19:4; 21:16; 21:42).

If the Sadducees had simply read the scriptures and taken God at His Word, they might  have been less prone to fall into error.

The final blow to their false doctrines came from the scriptures.

Jesus cited Exodus 3:6 to demonstrate that our wonderful God is the God of the living, not the dead!

Thus, the Sadducees could no longer hide from true spiritual realities.

We learned that the soul does live after the body dies.

We learned that those who go to hell experience real flames and that those who go to heaven, are comforted and blessed (See Luke 16, Lazarus and the rich man).

We know that believers in Christ shall enjoy a blessed reunion at the rapture and resurrection of life (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Therefore, we must make sure we are reading and studying God's Word so that we do not stray into error like the Sadducees and others did.

We must give God all glory for telling us what we need to know in preparation for when we enter heaven.

Let us love and serve God each day while we are here on earth.

Let us live anticipating Christ's return and our future home in heaven.

Let us be Christ's faithful followers and ready to share His life changing gospel with others 

Bob