Matthew 22:23–33 (NKJV)
23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, 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 multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
Religious hypocrisy abounded in Jesus’ day; it abounds in our day as well. In Jesus’ day, the Sadducees were the hyper-liberal religious leaders—controlling the temple and the Jewish council. Being materialists, they did not believe in the supernatural, but saw Jesus as a threat to their cash-flow and power, especially after He turned over the money-changer tables in the temple court. So, they come to Him and pose a question about resurrection because they do not believe in resurrection. They are trying to make Him look foolish, but Jesus turns that table on them as well. He tells them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (29). Then Jesus explains both Scripture and the power of God to them as though they were foolish little school children. They claim to believe in the first five books of Moses, but they demonstrate that they do not believe what these books actually say about God and His power. In this way Jesus exposes their hypocrisy, and He vindicates the hope of God’s people in the resurrection.
Likewise in our day, many claim to be Christian and even want to be leaders in Christian churches, but they fail to believe in basic biblical truths like the resurrection of the dead. Jesus exposes their hypocrisy as well when He says, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (29). We, however, who have faith in Him and His word, know both Scripture and the power of God to raise the dead. He raised Christ from the dead, and we too will be raised from the dead, even as Christ promised us, “Because I live you also will live” (Jn 14:19).
Let us pray: Almighty and eternal God, show your mercy to your humble servants. We put no trust in our own merits. Do not deal with us with your judgment, but with your forgiveness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
