27 Then some Sadducees, who say that people will not rise from death, came to Jesus and said, 28 “Teacher, Moses wrote this law for us: ‘If a man dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man’s brother must marry the widow so that they can have children who will be considered the dead man’s children.’ 29 Once there were seven brothers; the oldest got married and died without having children. 30 Then the second one married the woman, 31 and then the third. The same thing happened to all seven – they died without having children. 32 Last of all, the woman died. 33 Now, on the day when the dead rise to life, whose wife will she be? All seven of them had married her.” 34 esus answered them, “The men and women of this age marry, 35 but the men and women who are worthy to rise from death and live in the age to come will not then marry. 36 They will be like angels and cannot die. They are the children of God, because they have risen from death. 37 And Moses clearly proves that the dead are raised to life. In the passage about the burning bush he speaks of the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive.”
We begin with the Sadducees. They were an influential religious group when Jesus was on earth. Their power stemmed from being in charge of the Temple in Jerusalem. They based their religious life and faith on just the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, which sets out the Law.
They didn’t believe in bodily resurrection, which Jesus and the Pharisees upheld (Acts 23:6-9). So to try to prove their point they put this absurd question to Jesus. It is based on the “Levirate Law” (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). If a husband died without an heir his brother was required to marry the widow to protect family property.
Jesus replies that resurrected life will not be the same as the life we live today. Those “who are worthy to rise from death” will be like angels and will live forever (verses 34-36). So there will be no need for marriage or for children to continue the family line.
We are not given many details about our resurrection body. We do know that the disciples recognised Jesus after his Resurrection, even if others like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognise him immediately (Luke 24:13-35).
Jesus concludes his argument by quoting from a book that the Sadducees accepted as authoritative, Exodus. He cites Moses as proof that the dead are raised to life. When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush he reveals himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6).
The patriarchs are presented as alive. First-century Jews would have understood that the patriarchs hadn’t yet literally risen from the dead but “lived” with God awaiting their final resurrection. God is the God of the living, not of the dead.
MEDITATIO
Resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith. If Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead then we would have no foundation to hope that there is life after death. Are you confident in this hope? Read the Apostle Paul’s argument for the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
ORATIO
Pray these verses from 2 Thessalonians and bring any fears to God: ‘‘May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you always to do good and say what is good.
“May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God’s love and the endurance that is given by Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 3:5).
CONTEMPLATIO
Consider this encouragement from Philippians 3:20-21: “We, however, are citizens of heaven, we eagerly wait for the coming of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.”
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.