Matthew 22:29-33
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
29 “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know
the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor
be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of
the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob’? He is not
the God of the dead but of the living.”
33 When the crowds heard this, they were
astonished at his teaching.”
The verses prior to
this had to do with the Sadducees, trying to trick Jesus just like the
Pharisees did in the previously. As I
have been reading these scriptures I have thought of the debates that our daughters
have gone to in college where people of different religions come together,
including atheist, to debate the word of God.
As I read this today, I had to think, “How often do the Christian
debaters leave the others speechless as Christ did? If they don’t leave them speechless, why
not?” Jesus gives us the answer to those
questions in this passage.
1. You do not know the Scriptures. Most
often a debater will know the scriptures very well and do a fine job with
quoting those scriptures but do they know it well enough? What is enough? Every time I read the scriptures something
else pops out at me, I don’t think you can read it enough to know everything
that is in scripture to know it well enough to debate it on your own.
2. You
do not know the power of God. Many times we try to debate with
others on our own power and not the power of our God. When we give it to Him and let Him speak His
power is amazing. When we speak of God
we need to ask for His power to come down and take over our words. We need to always do that! God’s words are powerful our words are human.
3. Jesus
asked, “Have you not read?”. Do
you ever go to God in prayer and ask a question that is clearly in the
scriptures? What is amazing is that God
will point that verse out to you if you will take the time to read His
word. The answers to any of life’s
questions are in our Bible.
4. Jesus
makes two things very clear in His words to these men, so clear that they
cannot debate with Him:
a. God
is a God of the living. Jesus makes it clear that there is life after
death. He is a God of the living. He reveals to them that even though we may be
dead on this earth, it doesn’t mean our life is over because the word does not
say that He was the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, it says He is the
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We can
be assured that there is life after our earthly death.
b. Marriage
as we know it was established for today but in Heaven it will be non-essential.
The union of man and woman was established for us on earth but in Heaven
there will be no need to marry. Our
focus and our devotion will be on Christ.
We will be like the angels who do not marry but rather serve our Lord
and Savior.
As you seek Him,
read His word and find the power in those words through Him. He will make it clear to you through His
power and His power only.
Seeking Him with
all our hearts,
Sheila
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