June 02 2025

Monday June 02

Luke 20:27-36 – A Resurrection Day is Coming

27 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 28 saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.

31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." 34 And Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

In Luke 20, the Jewish priests, elders, scribes, and the Herodians confront Jesus with different questions or situations seeking to find a reason to have Him killed (v.19). They have questioned Him about His authority and Jesus responds with a question for them about the authority of John the Baptist and also a parable (vv. 1-19). The spies, sent by the Pharisees and the Herodians (Mark 12:13), question Him about paying taxes to Caesar and Jesus shuts them down with His answer (vv. 20-26).  

In verses 27-40, we find next in line were the Sadducees with a hypothetical question based on the Jewish law of "levirate marriage". You will find where they get this teaching from in Genesis 38 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10. The word levirate comes from the Latin levir, which means "a husband's brother." The Sadducees accepted as Scripture only the Five Books of Moses. Also in Acts 23:8 we are told they did not believe in angels, spirits, or the resurrection of the dead. They claimed that Moses did not write about any of these doctrines.

It is interesting to also note that the priestly party in Israel during the time of Jesus was mostly composed of Sadducees, which explains why the priests opposed the Apostles' preaching of the Resurrection (Acts 4:1-2) and why they wanted to kill Lazarus, who was raised from the dead (John 12:10-11).

Jesus pointed out that His opponents were wrong and that their question revealed assumptions that limited God's power and denied God's Word. Resurrection is not reconstruction; it is the miraculous granting of a new body that has continuity with the old body. Paul compared our present body to a planted seed and the future resurrection body to the glorious flower and fruit (1 Cor. 15:35-50). Our Lord's resurrection body was the same as before His death and yet different! Remember after Jesus’ resurrection His disciples recognized Him and even felt Him; He could eat food and yet He could also walk through closed doors, change His appearance, and vanish suddenly.

The future life with God is not a mere continuation of the present life only on "a higher scale." We will maintain our identities and know each other (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), but there will be no more death-hence, no need for marriage and procreation. Christians do not become angels.

In heaven we will share the image of Jesus Christ and be much higher than the angels (1 John 3:2). Angels appear in Scripture as men, but they are spirit beings without sexuality. It is in this regard that we will be like them; there will be no need for marriage or childbearing in heaven.

Is not God powerful enough to raise the dead and give them new bodies suited to their new environment? If today He can give different bodies to the various things in creation, why can He not give people new bodies at the resurrection? (1 Corinthians 15:35-44). In their attempt to be "rational," the Sadducees denied the very power of God!

Paul unveils the mystery of when and what takes place concerning the believer’s resurrection body in both 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:47-58. I believe that Jesus is coming back soon and “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” the living believers will experience a great change! Our perishable body will put on the imperishable, and our mortal body will put on immortality.

Hallelujah!!! What a day that will be! Are you prepared for that great day! It could be today!

God bless!