The Sadducees and the Resurrection

(Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40)

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to [Jesus] and questioned Him: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, [the man] is to marry [his brother’s] widow and raise up offspring for [him].[fn] 20 [Now] there were seven brothers. The first [one] married and died, leaving no children. 21 Then the second [one] married [the widow], [but] he also died [and] left no children. And the third [did] likewise. 22 In this way, none of the seven [who] had her[fn] left [any] children. And last of all, the woman died. 23 In the resurrection, [then],[fn] whose wife will she be? For [all] seven were married to her.”

24 Jesus answered them,[fn] “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures [or] the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.

26 But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the [burning] bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I [am] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[fn]? 27 He is not [the] God of [the] dead, but the God[fn] of [the] living. Therefore[fn] you are badly mistaken!”