Luke 20:34

And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the bush when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast said well. For they durst not any more ask him any question.

Parallels: Matthew 22:22-33; Mark 12:18-27.

The Sadducees' question regarded a projection that was theoretically possible, but actually quite unlikely and ridiculous on the face of it. It is impossible to see how they considered this any greater problem than if only two brothers had been involved in the marriage of one woman. Nevertheless, because, under the Levirate marriage required in Moses' law, such a development was not impossible, Jesus ignored the unlikelihood of it and answered it.

First, regarding marriage, such an institution will not be found in the eternal world. In this connection, one cannot help wondering about "marriage for eternity" as taught in Mormonism! Just as other fleshly relationships shall have been left behind, so marriage also will not exist in the next world.

Two worlds are clearly spoken of by Jesus in this passage. "This world" (Luke 20:34) and "that world" (Luke 20:35) are the designations Jesus used of the "here" and the "hereafter," nor is there the slightest hint of anything unreal about the future world. The Lord spoke with full authority of conditions there; and his words should illuminate all who heed them.

They are equal to the angels ... The Sadducees had raised no question about angels, although, of course, as a matter of fact, they denied that any such beings existed; but Jesus applied the stretchers to their brains in this department also. The Lord not only spoke of angels as actual beings, but he revealed that men shall be equal to angels in the hereafter (see my Commentary on Hebrews, Hebrews 1:14).

Sons of God ... sons of the resurrection ... This use of the two expressions synonymously is a pledge of a resurrection for the sons of God. The doctrine of the resurrection is a fundamental of Christianity; and no faith is adequate which denies it (see my Commentary on Hebrews, Hebrews 6:2).

Even Moses ... taught the resurrection of the dead; and the ignorance of the Sadducees of this was the reason for their not believing. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29).

Christ at once cited an example of Moses' teaching on the resurrection; and the incident referred to brings in focus Exodus 3:6:

And he (God) said, I AM the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Significantly, Jesus made the argument for the resurrection to turn upon a single verb, AM, and the tense of the verb at that! Such faith in the Scriptures on the part of Jesus should inspire his followers to trust the Bible.

It is also significant that Jesus applied these words, I AM, to himself, referring to himself as "I AM" in Mark 6:30,14:62, and John 18:5; and there can be no understanding of Jesus' use of this expression except as an affirmation of his Godhead.

Naturally, after such a devastating defeat at the hands of Jesus, the questioners withdrew, no more daring to ask any question of the Lord. However, Jesus would turn the tables and ask them a question.