Matthew 22
That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a 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. 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. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘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.”
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
Matthew 22:23-33
Have you thought much about your next life? The one after death?
Jesus makes it clear in Matthew that there is a resurrection from death that is according to the scriptures (verse 29 & 32) and according to the ‘power of God’ (verse 29). This power of God is the very resurrection power of Jesus Himself. ‘And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you’ (Romans 8:11).
This is why Jesus can boldly say, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:25-26)
Do you believe this? Your answer is vital – it affects how you will trust and obey King Jesus. Eternal life is only in Him. He says that we will be ‘like the angels in heaven’ (verse 30). We will be immortal and will worship God forever in His presence.
Does this truth fill you with hope and joy? Life is not just sin, sorrow and futility. Death is not an ending but a beginning of eternal joy in God’s presence. (Psalm 16:10-11)
Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You make a way for us to live forever with You through Your Son, Jesus. Please help us to live for You now in this present life and to obey You.