Luke 20:27-38
27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”
Never Abuse the Sacred
With St. Luke’s Gospel this week, we are already in Jerusalem at the last stage of Jesus’ message. This is where He had to face the official religious and political authorities who tried their best to distort His message and reputation among the crowds of His followers.
Among those, we see the Sadducees trying to trap Him and justify their principles. As a group, they believe in the biblical written tradition, but are cautious about the oral one that’s believed to have been received by Moses and transmitted to the high priests and the elders. They accept living under Roman occupation, provided they enjoy a wealthy and pleasant earthly life, denying the existence of angels and eternal life!
How could they trap Jesus with a question inspired by the Law of Moses?
They asked Jesus about the levirate system, which says that a man has to marry his brother’s widow and bring up the children as his brother’s children to keep the name of the late brother alive.
Jesus keeps teaching about eternal life, which is denied by the Sadducees. So, after the Resurrection, what happens to the wife who was married to the seven brothers? Whose wife will she be?
Jesus is aware of their beliefs and of their intent by asking such a question, but as always, He answers them gently, firmly and decisively. “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. (VV. 34-36).
We notice Jesus confirming both the existence of angels and the fact of the Resurrection that gives the grace of being children of God. We also notice how He reminds them that they have to be worthy of a place in that age. Earthly life has its characteristics and limits. It should introduce us to eternal life.
Our only way to be invited to the Banquet of the Lamb in eternity is through Jesus‘ presence. He is the model of God’s love for us and the model of our relations to others. Jesus teaches us and lives what He teaches us. Following Jesus’ ways prepares us for eternal life as children of the Resurrection.
Do we use the Scriptures to trap Jesus as the devil did on the Mt. of Temptation, or as the Sadducees are doing here to justify their way of living? May our reflections and meditations lead us to fully respect the sacred without trying to use Scriptures to justify our evil deeds. May we remain attached to their right meanings that offer us the way, the truth and the life!
