LUKE 20:27-40 SEVEN BROTHERS, ONE WIFE

SEVEN BROTHERS,

ONE WIFE

LUKE 20:27-40

Luke 20:27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Susan: The Pharisees and Herodians had taken a crack at Jesus with the question about taxes and failed miserably. Now the Sadducees are going to take a stab at getting Jesus to say something that could be held against Him according to either Jewish or Roman law. The irony of their question is that Sadducees did not even believe in the resurrection of the dead. They thought this life on earth was it, and when you were dead, you ceased to exist.

Luke 20:28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Susie: The writing of Moses they referred to is found in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 25:5-6 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

Susan: We see examples of this being put into practice in the story of Judah’s sons and his daughter-in-law, Tamar.

Genesis 38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Archeological Study Bible (Zondervan)

Genesis 38:8 refers to the social and legal obligation of the levir (Latin for “husband’s brother”) to marry his widowed sister-in-law in the event his brother had died and left her childless.

Susan: We see another example of this when Boaz married Ruth. He was a near relative of her husband who had died. Thus, her son, Obed was considered to be her original husband’s heir.

Susie: Both Tamar’s son, Perez, and Ruth’s son, Obed, were in the lineage of Jesus.

Susan: The scenario the Sadducees were about to propose was preposterous not only because it involved SEVEN levirate marriages, but because they did not even believe in an afterlife!

Luke 20:29-33 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? For seven had her to wife.

Susie: These Sadducees described a hypothetical situation in which seven brothers each married the same woman in order to try to preserve the eldest brother’s family line, but in the end, she still was childless. Their question was, “Who would be her husband in the afterlife?” Bizarre question since they did not believe there was an afterlife.

Luke 20:34-36 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Susie: Jesus makes at least two points here. The first is that there will be no marriage in Heaven, and the second is that not everyone will be there. Only those who are God’s children, i.e. those who have believed and trusted in Jesus, will enjoy being with God in the afterlife.

Susan: There is only one Bridegroom in Heaven, and that is Jesus. Nothing can compare with the love He has for us, and the love we will have for Him. All barriers to the perfect relationship with the Lord, all sin, will be completely abolished, and we will enjoy all-consuming, incomparable love with Him!

Luke 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Susie: Jesus is referring to what Moses wrote of his encounter with the Lord when God spoke to him from a bush that was on fire but was not consumed, did not burn up. God introduced Himself thus:

Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Susan: Note that God said, “I AM the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” He did not say, “I was.” Even though the patriarchs had died, they were still alive to God in the afterlife. Therefore, Jesus summarizes that He is the God of the living, not the dead.

Susie: Jesus was using this as a proof for life after death. We are eternal beings. The only question is will we be in the wonderful presence of the Lord (Heaven) or will we exist in a place where there is absolutely nothing good (Hell).

Luke 20:39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

Susan: Some of the scribes acknowledged that Jesus nailed it with His answer.  He was well-spoken and articulate. No truer words had been spoken on the subject.

Susie: They had to admit that His logic and use of Scripture were point on.

Luke 20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

Susan: They realized that Jesus could catch them in a worse trap than they were trying to set for Him. Jesus was far too wise and perceptive to be tripped up by their questions. Before they could set their traps, He was already attuned to their motives.

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus confirmed in His answer to the Sadducees that there is, indeed, life after death. The question is how will you spend eternity? Will it be in the intimate, loving relationship with Jesus that is the reward of all who surrender their lives to Him in faith by the grace of God. Or will it be forever separated from God—forever in a place with absolutely nothing good or pleasant, a place of eternal torment. If the following verse is true for you, we will enjoy the love of our Lord forever together:

John 5:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.