The Sadducees and the Age to Come

Scriptures for discussion: Luke 20:27-38 and Matthew 22:23-33

Who were the Sadducees?

What did they believe?

What do you think of their beliefs?

Were they correct in saying that Moses wrote if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up children for his brother? (Can you find a relevant verse?)

The Sadducees asked Jesus a long-winded question in Luke 20:28-33. Did they genuinely want to know whose wife this woman would be? Can anyone give an example of a question of the same nature as theirs?

Jesus’ answer is two-fold in verses 34-36 and 37-38 of Luke 20.

Verses 34-36 (see also Matt. 22:29-30)

List the facts we learn from these verses about the age to come.

What’s interesting about Jesus’ response bearing in mind it’s the Sadducees who asked Him the question?

What comments or questions do you have about what Jesus says? E.g What’s being ‘counted worthy to attain’ all about? What kind of equality with the angels is it talking about (rank, substance, something else…)? Why does it say ‘neither marry nor are given in marriage? Why no marriage?

Verses 37-39 (see also Matt. 22:31-33)

What do we learn about Jesus’ view of world history? Give other significant examples from elsewhere of Jesus’ view of history.

What’s interesting about this part of Jesus’ response bearing in mind it’s the Sadducees who ask Him the question?

What is Jesus’ response and how does it answer the Sadducees’ question?

When Jesus said that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, does this provide strong evidence that Moses, Abraham etc are alive and worshipping Him at this very moment? Why, or why not?

Can you find texts from the Old Testament that refer to the resurrection to come?

According to Matthew 22:29, what was the Sadducees’ problem? How do we relate to their problem? Why is it important that we overcome the same problem in our lives to the degree that it might exist?