Sadducees ask about the Resurrection
The gospel for this coming Sunday (Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost) is Luke 20:27-40.
The scribes had tempted Jesus concerning taxes to Caesar in the last text. Now this second controversy introduces the Sadducees for the first and only time in Luke’s narrative. The Sadducees came from wealthy and privileged families in Jerusalem. They were considered theological liberals because they denied the resurrection and the existence of angels.
In this narrative they try to trip up Jesus by using part of the Scripture where a man dies and his brother is to take his wife and bring forth children for the first man’s legacy. In their way of thinking, there is no resurrection, death is the end. Jesus, of course, does not fall for this rouse.
Jesus ignores the issue of their view of marriage, but addresses the question of the resurrection. Their question is irrelevant; in heaven, people neither marry nor remarry, die nor give birth. (TLSB)
In Jesus’ teaching he mentions some of the most important people in the lives of the children of Israel. These patriarchs, though dead from an earthly perspective, are still alive with God. Jesus tells them that God is the God of the living not the dead. What that means is death is not the end for us. People who die in the faith live forever with him in heaven. Knowing this gives purpose to our life every moment of our life.
Prayer: I praise you, Lord of life, for the resurrection promised in your Word. Grant me faithfulness unto the Last Day. Amen. (TLSB)