124. The Sadducees and the Resurrection
23The same day Sadducees,a who say that there is no resurrection, came to him; and they asked him a question, 24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. 26So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27After them all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, therefore, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her.”29But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”b
33And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. 39And some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40For they no longer dared to ask him any question.
(Mt. 22:23–33; Lk. 20:39–40)
a “Sadducees”—the Sadducees consisted of the priesthood and certain wealthy Jews.
b “And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”—If God says I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it means that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still in existence, still living. Thus, Jesus uses this statement by God (speaking to Moses) as evidence that there is a resurrection after mortal death. Otherwise God would have said, “I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Mt. 22:23 Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him; / Sadducees came to him, who say there is no resurrection; (RSV)
Mt. 22:32 Ex. 3:6 • I am the / I am the (RSV) (174:3/1900)
