New “Deeper Insights posts” by Beth Johnson:
Things that Cause Others to Stumble
WOMAN WITH SEVEN HUSBANDS
Read: Matt. 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40
1. Who introduced this case (Luke 20:27)? What do they believe (Acts 23:6-8)?
Luke 20:27-28—Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Acts 23:6-8—But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
2. What was Moses’ teaching to confirm the possibility of such a case (Luke 20:28; Deut. 25:5)?
Luke 20:28—Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Deuteronomy 25:5—If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.
3. What was the experience of the woman (Luke 20:29-32)?
Luke 20:29-32—There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all, the woman died also.
4. Now, what was the question intended to ensnare Christ (Luke 20:33)?
Luke 20:33—Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. This question is simply dripping with sarcasm from ones who want to prove there cannot possibly be a resurrection!
5. What was the basis of the Sadducee’s religious dilemma (Matt. 22:29-32; Acts 23:8)?
Matthew 22:29-32—Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Acts 23:8—For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
6. Doubtless the woman was sad and lonely with losing seven husbands or with never having a child, but what could have been her hope and joy for eternity (Matt. 5:4; Luke 6:21)?
ANS: Anyone who lives faithful to God has the hope of peace and joy eternally.
7. If we were to have such a life, what should give us cause to laugh and be comforted (Rom. 8:17-25)?
ANS: Part of the reason might be our new body, and the glory that will be revealed in us eternally.
Romans 8:17-25—And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
8. Give Mark’s account of this situation (Mark 12:24-27).
Mark 12:24-27—And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
9. Give Christ’s proof of the resurrection (Luke 20:37-38).
Luke 20:34-38—And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
POINTS TO CONSIDER:
1. What will be wholly unknown in heaven (Matt. 22:30)?
Matthew 22:30—For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
2. Why will there be no weeping in heaven (Rev. 21:4)?
Revelation 21:4—And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
3. What determines divine relationship (Matt. 12:48-50)?
Matthew 12:48-50—But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
4. In the resurrection, what radical changes will be made to our bodies (1 Cor. 15:50-54)?
1 Corinthians 15:50-54—Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
5. What will our new bodies be like (Phil. 3:20-21; Matt. 22:30)?
ANS: Philippians 3:20-21—For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Matthew 22:30—For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
6. What are the angels like (Heb. 1:13-14; Exod. 33:18-23; Matt. 18:10; Luke 1:19; Judges 13:16-21)? How are the angels’ forms different than a man’s? (not to be confused with cherubim and seraphim)
Hebrews 1:7—And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Hebrews 1:13-14—But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Exod. 33:19-23 Man (flesh and blood) cannot see God and live.
Matt. 18:10 Angels behold the face of the Father, so their bodies are not flesh and blood.
Luke 1:19 Gabriel stands in the presence of God, so he is not flesh and blood.
Judges 13:16-21 the angel took on the form of man.
Notice in Exodus 33:19-23 that man is flesh and blood and he cannot see God and live. Angels “behold the face of the Father,” so their bodies are not flesh and blood (Matthew 18:10). Gabriel stands in the presence of God, so he is not flesh and blood (Luke 1:19).
In the account of the woman with 7 husbands, we are told that we shall be “as the angels” when we are resurrected with a new body (Matt 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 2:15). Many people have no understanding of the resurrection, our new spiritual bodies or the life we will lead. Some might think being like the angels is no big deal, because they are just “people” that have wings and are dressed in white. A deeper study of these mighty beings gives us a marvelous picture of God’s messengers (Heb. 1:7; Heb. 1:13-14). An angel’s body is able to “fly (Rev. 14:6),” appear and disappear (Judges 13:16-21), become a flame of fire (Heb. 1:7; Judges 13:20), take on the form of a man (Judges 13:16-21).
Just one angel was all it took to kill every firstborn in Egypt in one night (Exod. 12:23, 29), or destroy 185,000 valiant soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35). Prophet after prophet fell on his face or fainted at the sight of one of these mighty spiritual beings (Dan. 9:27). They appeared with horses or chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17; Zech. 6), raiment white as snow (Dan. 7:9-10; Matt. 28:1-4; Mark 9:2-3; Rev. 1:13-15), body like beryl, eyes as lightening (Daniel 10:5-6; Exod. 24:16-17; Rev. 19:11-12), and the list goes on and on.