Weekly Sermons

Know God’s Word, Experience God’s Power!

In today’s passage we will see Jesus address the topic of marriage in Heaven decisively, while at the same time rebuking those who mock God’s word.

Matthew 22:23-33

The Sadducees skeptical question                                                            V. 23-28

The Sadducees were a sect that included many of the rich families, priests, and members of the ruling Sanhedrin. They practiced “go along to get along” with the Roman authorities.

The word stasis (G4714) means “stand” or “rise.” Add the prefix Ana and you get Anastasis (G386), which occurs 42 times in the New Testament, including 4 times in our passage. It means “Stand up” or “Rise up.” Put the article “the” in front of it and you get the future time believers will experience eternal life with God, and unbelievers will experience eternal condemnation and be apart from God (Daniel 12:2; John 11:24-26).   

In verse 24 they are referring to the Levirate marriage law from Deuteronomy 25:5-10, which called for a “kinsman redeemer.”

The two basic problem with those who are wise in their own eyes            V. 29

According to Jesus, their two basic problems were they didn’t know the Bible or God’s power.

They didn’t see what the Scripture clearly taught, and they didn’t see that an expert about Heaven had come down from Heaven and was standing before their very eyes!  

“STOP!” demanded Kirkpatrick, giving Lewis a jolt of surprise. “What do you mean by wildness and what grounds had you for not expecting it?”

“Do you not see, then, that your remark was meaningless?” asked Kirkpatrick. “Do you not see, then, that you had no right to have any opinion whatever on the subject?”  

Make it your resolution this year to know God’s word, and experience God’s power as you apply it in your life (Phil. 3:10; Eph. 1:19-20).

Jesus clarifies THE resurrection and our eternal existence           V. 30-32

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. -Acts 23:8

So don’t say there is no marriage in Heaven – there is One all-important relationship with Jesus that will give deeper meaning to every other relationship we have than we have ever experienced on earth.

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fulness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.                   -Psalm 16:10

When Yahweh spoke those words to Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for centuries. But God didn’t say, “I was their God, He says He AM (Present tense) their God!

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.                 -Philippians 1:21