Matthew 22:23–33: The God of the Living
Introduction
Jesus’ enemies do not give him much time to regroup. In rapid succession, the Sadducees come to test Jesus, now that he had dispatched the Pharisees and the Herodians. When the Sadducees come, they come to test him on their main theological idiosyncrasy: a denial of the resurrection of the dead. As they attempt to disprove the resurrection by an appeal to a supposed absurdity in the Bible, Jesus exposes their surface-level reading of the text to demonstrate the deeper significance of God’s Word for God’s people. Namely, this passage teaches us that Christ is our resurrection hope in life and in death.
Discussion Questions
1. How does the transitional phrase “the same day” connect this passage back to the previous interaction of Jesus with the Pharisees and the Herodians (v. 23a)? Who were the Sadducees, and why did they deny the resurrection (v. 23b; cp. Acts 23:8)? What was levirate marriage, and why did God provide for levirate marriage in the Old Testament (v. 24; cp. Deut. 25:5–10)? Why do we need to think theologically about provisions in the Bible like this one?
2. What did Jesus mean when he said that the Sadducees did not understand the Scriptures or the power of God (v. 29)? In what respect will those whom God resurrects become like angels in heaven (v. 30)? Why were children considered an important part of God’s fulfillment of his covenant promises to his people, even beyond their deaths (see Gen. 17:7–8)? Why does the resurrection make marriage and reproduction unnecessary for the fulfillment of God’s promises?
3. Why did Jesus quote from Exodus 3:6 to prove the doctrine of the resurrection? How does God’s covenant faithfulness to those who have died compare to the covenant obligations of a man or woman whose spouse has died? What comfort can we take in God’s ongoing faithfulness beyond our deaths? How does this concept of covenantal faithfulness suggest that we still live to God, even after we die?
4. What comfort does the resurrection hold for you? How often do you think about the resurrection? What associations do you have when you think about the resurrection? How does death’s looming shadow affect the way that you are living today? If you were to die today, and God were to ask you why he should permit you to enter his kingdom, what would you say? What is your only comfort in life and in death?
