Seven marriages for one bride
Opening Prayer
King of glory, reveal Yourself to my heart and cause me to run with You
Read Luke 20:27–40
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[27] Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. [28] “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. [30] The second [31] and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. [32] Finally, the woman died too. [33] Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” [34] Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. [35] But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, [36] and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. [37] But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ [38] He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” [39] Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” [40] And no one dared to ask him any more questions. 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 will things be different in heaven?The Sadducees were a group of religious leaders connected to the Temple. They were highly educated, often from privileged backgrounds, and among other things they denied any idea of resurrection after death. In this they disagreed fiercely with the Pharisees, another prominent religious group at the time of Jesus. Luke records that Jesus has already spoken of his own death and resurrection three times, so he is an easy target for these scholars. A spurious and amusing scenario is offered, probably to make Jesus look even more ridiculous. But his answer is masterly; this real issue lies in the nature of God. Future marriage is neither here nor there; the greatest revelation is that God’s relationships transcend time and space. People like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had been dead for centuries and yet, mysteriously, they remain alive to God. He is the God of the living, not the dead, and so there is eternal life for all of his children.
Apply
Kneel, bow or prostrate before the King. Focus on all that he is.
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