Single lesson
The Question about Resurrection
Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of The Question about Resurrection, using two details from the reading. 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.
Welcome: The Question about Resurrection
5 minIntroduce “The Question about Resurrection” and locate Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40. 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. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:24, Luke 20:40
Read and explain the passage
12 minMatthew, 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.
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.
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 selected verses together, pausing at “The Question about Resurrection”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Matthew 22:23, Matthew 22:24, Matthew 22:25, Matthew 22:28, Mark 12:18, Mark 12:19, Mark 12:20, Mark 12:23, Luke 20:27, Luke 20:28, Luke 20:29, Luke 20:33, Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25, Luke 20:34, Luke 20:35, Luke 20:36, Matthew 22:33, Luke 20:39, Luke 20:40
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “Why does Jesus say the Sadducees are mistaken?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. 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. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Matthew 22:29, Mark 12:24, Luke 20:34, Luke 20:35, Luke 20:36, Matthew 22:30, Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:37, Luke 20:38
Make and respond: Read and respond sheet
12 minWork on “The Question about Resurrection: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Question about Resurrection” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:24, Luke 20:40
Closing: return to The Question about Resurrection
3 minRevisit Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Question about Resurrection and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:24, Luke 20:40
Questions to explore
Why does Jesus say the Sadducees are mistaken?
Look for the two reasons Jesus gives, not just the example the Sadducees raised.
Matthew 22:29, Mark 12:24
What does Jesus say is different about “that age” and the resurrection?
Notice the statements about marriage, death and being like the angels.
Luke 20:34, Luke 20:35, Luke 20:36, Matthew 22:30
How does Jesus use God’s words about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make his point?
Read the quotation and Jesus’ conclusion together.
Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:37, Luke 20:38
Make, think or respond
The Question about Resurrection: Read and respond sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
- Read Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40. Use “The Question about Resurrection” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.
The finished sheet keeps the details of The Question about Resurrection connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Question about Resurrection” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 22
23 On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
26 In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
27 After them all, the woman died.
28 In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
31 But 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.”
33 When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Mark 12
18 Some 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.’
20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”
24 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?
25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
26 But 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’?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”
Luke 20
27 Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.
28 They 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.
29 There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.
30 The second took her as wife, and he died childless.
31 The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.
32 Afterward the woman also died.
33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35 But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
36 For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
37 But 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.’
38 Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”
39 Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.”
40 They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.