May 7, 2023

Luke 20:27-44

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.

⁴¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? ⁴² David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
⁴³ until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’

⁴⁴ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Read Luke 20:27-33

1. How much do you know about the group called the Sadducees? If your answer is “not much” try going here: click here for article.
2. Does this question from the Sadducees come across as an honest question to you? Are they asking a question or making a statement? What would that statement be?

Read Luke 20:34-40

1. What do you like about Jesus’ response? What in Jesus’ response makes you uncomfortable? What questions do you have that remain unanswered? Where could you go to get more answers?
2. Jesus speaks of ‘this age’ and also of ‘the age to come.’ What is your best understanding of these two ages? Here is a quick article that may help you if you are stumped.
3. Jesus gives his questioners way more than they were asking for. Do your best to summarize his answer to the question that they asked.

Read Luke 20:41-44

1. David quotes part of Psalm 110, a Psalm used in the very temple environment in which this conversation is taking place. He asks this question of leaders who prided themselves in their vast knowledge and understanding of worship in the temple. What is suggested by the fact that these ‘knowledgeable leaders’ did not have an answer to his question?
2. What is the point Jesus is making to the Sadducees in these verses?