Matthew 22:26-30
Mat 22:26 (KJB)
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
So the Sadducee tells the narrative about seven brothers marrying the same woman
after each one had died.
Mat 22:27 (KJB)
And last of all the woman died also.
Finally after seven husbands, the woman died also.
Mat 22:28 (KJB)
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all
had her.
Here they thought that they would have Jesus because if seven husbands had her,
then which one of the seven husbands could lay claim to her after they are all
resurrected? They had assumed that the seven would be in constant argument about
who had the right to her. These Sadducees like the Pharisees, whenever they put
together a scenario where they would try and trap Jesus, found out that they
were the ones who were always trapped because they did not know they were
dealing with deity.
Mat 22:29 (KJB)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor
the power of God.
This is the only written confrontation in all the gospels between Jesus and the
Sadducees. Jesus makes it clear that they are in error in their understanding of
the resurrection. This misunderstanding comes from the fact that they did not
know the Scriptures. They had rejected all the Hebrew scriptures except the five
books of Moses and therefore severely limited their knowledge. For example, if
they would have accepted the prophets, they would have come to verses like
Daniel 12:2 which speak of a general resurrection of everyone. (Dan 12:2
KJV) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. They had also
been in error concerning the power of God to be able to raise the dead on the
last day. (1 Cor 2:5 KJV) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of
men, but in the power of God. When you reject any part of the Scriptures,
you are doing so to your own destruction.
Mat 22:30 (KJB)
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are
as the angels of God in heaven.
(1 Cor 15:44 KJV) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. There will be a great
difference between the natural body that is placed in the grave and the
spiritual body which will be resurrected. Since death will be no more, then
marriage for the purpose of procreation will no longer be necessary. The
resurrected body will be like that of the angels which are a spiritual body. It
is interesting that Jesus is likening the resurrected body to the angels,
something which the Sadducees do not believe in. The principle is thus, just
because someone believes a certain way or does not believe a certain way, has no
effect on the truth. The Rabbis had taught that the world to come will be a
continuation of the present one, but without evil or death. Jesus is trumping
their belief by telling them that the world to come is going to be one of a
higher order which will replace this present world. (Rev 21:1 KJV) And I saw
a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were
passed away; and there was no more sea.