Read & explore together
The Question about Resurrection
Some Sadducees try to challenge Jesus with a question about resurrection. Jesus answers by correcting their assumptions and by pointing to God’s own words about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
In these accounts, the Sadducees are identified as people who deny the resurrection. They present a case based on Moses’ instruction about a dead man’s brother marrying the widow to raise up offspring. Jesus responds to their question and the crowd or scribes react to his teaching.
Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40Main takeaway
Jesus teaches that resurrection life is not simply a continuation of present marriage arrangements, and he argues from God’s words that the dead are raised.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A question from people who deny resurrectionMatthew, Mark and Luke each begin by identifying the Sadducees as people who say there is no resurrection.
Explanation
Matthew, Mark and Luke each begin by identifying the Sadducees as people who say there is no resurrection. Their question is not neutral. They use Moses’ instruction about a brother raising up offspring for a dead brother and build a difficult example with seven brothers and one woman.
02Jesus says their mistake has two partsJesus does not accept their assumptions. He says they are mistaken because they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Explanation
Jesus does not accept their assumptions. He says they are mistaken because they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. That means the problem is deeper than one tricky case. Their reading of Scripture is flawed, and their idea of what God can do is too small.
03Resurrection life is different from this ageJesus explains that resurrection is not a return to ordinary earthly patterns. In the resurrection, people neither marry nor are given in marriage.
Explanation
Jesus explains that resurrection is not a return to ordinary earthly patterns. In the resurrection, people neither marry nor are given in marriage. Luke adds that those who attain that age cannot die any more, are like the angels, and are called children of God and children of the resurrection.
04Jesus argues from God’s words to MosesJesus then turns to what God said at the bush: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Explanation
Jesus then turns to what God said at the bush: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” From this, Jesus says God is not God of the dead, but of the living. Luke adds, “for all are alive to him.”
05The listeners recognise the strength of the answerThe response to Jesus is strong. Matthew says the multitudes were astonished at his teaching.
Explanation
The response to Jesus is strong. Matthew says the multitudes were astonished at his teaching. Luke records that some scribes said, “Teacher, you speak well,” and after that the questioners did not dare ask him any more questions. His answer stops the challenge.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Jesus say the Sadducees are mistaken?
Look for the two reasons Jesus gives, not just the example the Sadducees raised.
02What does Jesus say is different about “that age” and the resurrection?
Notice the statements about marriage, death and being like the angels.
03How does Jesus use God’s words about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make his point?
Read the quotation and Jesus’ conclusion together.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 22:23–33
23On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
26In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
27After them all, the woman died.
28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
33When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Mark 12:18–27
18Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,
19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
20There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
21The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
22and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”
24Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?
25For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
26But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”
Luke 20:27–40
27Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.
28They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
29There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.
30The second took her as wife, and he died childless.
31The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.
32Afterward the woman also died.
33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”
34Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
36For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
38Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”
39Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.”
40They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.