Whose Wife Will She Be?

”Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 2:29, 30). 

A lawyer was asked for only a “Yes” or “No” answer by the accused on the witness stand. Stiffening like a Kool Pop the lawyer replied he would be happy to give such an answer if the accused would answer his question first with a “Yes” or “No.” “Done! I’ll answer with either a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No.’” So the lawyer asked, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” Had him, right!? Either answer would incriminate. Dead silence ensued.  

The Sadducees, a small party of Jews with plenty of bling and influence as the highest priestly aristocracy of the day, wanted to trick Jesus in a similar way. They plotted to entrap him with a question about the resurrection. In a real sense they wanted Jesus to say “Yes” there is marriage in heaven and you got me or “No” there is no resurrection from the dead and you got me.  

Here’s the question: “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 - Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 - The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27- Finally, the woman died. 28 - Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her (Matt 22:24-28)?” 

Here’s Christ’s answer: “Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 - At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 - But about the resurrection of the dead- have you not read what God said to you, 32 - ‘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’” (Matt 22:29-32). 

 Here’s the lessons: A. Do not underestimate God’s power. B. Know your Bible. C. Never be a Sadducee. You see, the Sadducees, only believed in the Pentateuch as God’s Word, few if any references to life after death in those books of Moses. So, they did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. Hence, a Sadducee was sad you see (Apply own groan). Taking a Levirate Law of the O.T. where a living unmarried brother is to marry a deceased brother’s widow to give him offspring (life only is carried on in this life) they create the ridiculous resurrection question for Christ of a woman in heaven with possibly seven husbands.   

Notice Christ’s answer is from the Pentateuch. He could have quoted other prophets or pointed to his own resurrection power. Do you know your Bible? God has always said, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Not “I was but I am!” These patriarchs are fully alive as you and I will be with them and the risen Christ one day. After all, he defines himself as the living God. 

Silly Sadducees - God’s power makes heaven a complete and different order. Marriage is not an institution of heaven, but love is. If you love your spouse now, by God’s power, won’t you love that spouse even more in heaven, forever?  

There is but one bride in heaven, the Church, and the joy we saints will enjoy there together is so hope filled to anticipate. Trust the power of the self-existent God that called all into being with merely his Word. Study resurrection Scripture. Put some to memory. And for heaven’s sake, leave the sad snarkiness of the Sadducees - yes, for heaven’s sake!