Don’t Be Earthbound!
Opening Prayer
Lord, give me eyes that see what is eternal and boldness to live out this reality in every interaction.
Read Matthew 22:23-33
[23] That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. [24] “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?” [29] 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.” [33] When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How much do you respect God's Word?The Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the resurrection, were still intent on trapping Jesus, this time posing a ludicrous hypothetical story. According to the Law, if a man died childless his brother could marry the widow and endeavor to produce a son in his dead brother’s name. So suppose there were seven brothers and the wife of the first married all of them in succession as each died without a son and heir. Whose wife would she be at the resurrection? The whole idea of the questioning was to demonstrate their belief that the resurrection was ludicrous.Jesus’ reply exposes the narrow, earthbound thinking of the Sadducees, as he contrasts our usual pre-death state with our resurrection life (30). He goes on to paint an even bigger picture of this new mode of existence, showing that God is still in relationship with the patriarchs who had died long before (32); the covenant with his people is therefore not halted by death. People often falsely think that God’s ways are narrow and limited. He is the God of the whole earth! His ways are far above ours, and his thoughts wider and bigger altogether.
Apply
Ask God to give you his perspective on the issues that you are facing today.
Closing prayer
God, You never fail; You never give up. You never turn away from those who call on You. You are trustworthy and good.
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