Matthew 22:23-33 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 22:23-33 on biblegateway.com
Verse 23The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, Verse 24"Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' Verse 25Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. Verse 26The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Verse 27Last of all, the woman herself died. Verse 28In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." Verse 29Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. Verse 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Verse 31And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, Verse 32'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." Verse 33And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Devotion
Wanting an answer to a question means we want to learn something, right? From Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees’ question about life after death, it would seem he knew learning was not the intent of their question. What the Sadducees didn’t know was that the God Jesus proclaimed had the definitive answer to all questions about death. That answer was Jesus himself whom God raised from the dead that we, too, might not just die but be raised to spend eternity with the God of life and love.
Prayer
O God of the living, may the knowledge of our resurrection in Jesus comfort us when fears of death overwhelm us. Amen.