This chapter contains several more teachings of Jesus on topics such as His authority, wickedness and condemnation, comparisons between the current age and the age to come (also the physical world vs. the spiritual realm).
” ‘In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.’ And Jesus said… ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to… the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God… even Moses… calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.’ ” (v33-38)
Some Sadducees (religious officials) who don’t believe in resurrection from death try to stump Jesus with a question. Jesus answers their question about that specific scenario in the age to come, and also provides commentary on resurrection (because they don’t believe in it). He states a critical truth about the Father, that He is “God of the living”, “not God of the dead”, and “all live to Him”.
These statements clearly imply that once physical life ceases, our spirits live on, regardless of their destination. Some will be ‘children of God and of the resurrection’, while others will not, but all human spirits will carry on (there is an ‘afterlife’).
Who we believe and obey in this physical life directly affects our spirit’s continued existence once this life is over. The great news is, through Jesus and His resurrection, we can be ‘children of the resurrection’. Let’s embrace God and encourage others to join us as His children in both this life, and the eternal life that follows.
Father God, our glorious Lord of Life, You have granted us all of the knowledge and insight we need in order to join You in eternity. Please keep our eyes fixed on You, and please open our neighbors’ eyes to The Way, The Truth, and The Life, so that all may come into Your holy presence for eternity. We love You, and seek to humbly obey You, for all of our remaining days. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training