Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “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 raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Theology matters. Understanding the Word of God is a vital importance to living a life that honors him.

The Sadducees had some erroneous beliefs: 1) They rejected the resurrection from the dead and the afterlife, 2) They did not believe in angels or demons, and 3) They pictured God and humans as distinct and independent and they did not believe in predestination.

Since they did not themselves believe in the resurrection of the dead, they were using this complicated question to demonstrate their perceived position of superior belief over Jesus.

Jesus puts them in their place and not only answers their question, but also corrects the false doctrine at the root of the question.

Jesus cleared it up, questioning their knowledge of scripture. There is no marriage of resurrected souls in heaven. I think this is fascinating. On earth, two imperfect humans marry and complement each other, support each other, and have children. They create a family unit. This is important. In heaven, however, we will be fully manifested as the Bride of Christ. It appears as if our need or dependence on a spouse is not necessary.

The bigger questions at play here, though, are: Does God raise the dead? And is there an afterlife? Jesus quotes scripture to prove that there is an afterlife. God did not refer to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the past tense, but in the present tense. And he has a plan for both our lives here and our afterlife with him.

What are the beliefs I hear that go against scripture? Am I prepared to give a defense with scripture quotes? Will I listen for the heart issues as well?

Lord, may I grow in my knowledge and understanding of your Word. Give me increased spiritual insight to discern and ascertain its truth and defend your truth in the public square.