A respectful response
Luke 20:27-40
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
It is interesting to see how human character has not changed. Here are a group of people (Sadducees) trying to catch Jesus out about whose wife a lady is if she has been married multiple times to differing brothers according to the custom of the Jews. We know they are not genuine but trying it on because they didn’t actually believe in the resurrection!!
Jesus addressed them respectfully and wisely. He dealt with their request without getting caught up in their game.
This is insightful for us when we are engaged in conversation with those who are inquiring about faith in Jesus. Some may, like the Sadducees in this story, just be engaging for ‘sport’. Others for genuine interest. Irrespective we need to respond with respect and wisdom and give our responses accordingly.
Father, help us to always be winsome as we explain the Gospel to those without faith.
Written by Ps. Richard Botta