The Sadducees and Resurrection - Matthew 22:23

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle” Jesus “in his talk. Tell us therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why do you tempt me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-three of his book Matthew shared, “the same day came to him the Sadducees” where we read:

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

The verse reads, “The same day came to him the Sadducees, ...” Matthew began with the words, “the same day” which means “within the selfsame day the students of the Pharisees left” “came to him” which means “approached Jesus” “the Sadducees” or “a religious party at the time of Christ among the Jews who denied that the oral law was a revelation of God to the Israelites and who deemed the written law alone to be obligatory on the nation as the divine authority”. Matthew shared how the religious group called the “Sadducees” approached Jesus.

The verse continued, “... which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,” Matthew added the words, “which say” which means “who declare and proclaim” “that there is no resurrection” or “there exists no rising again to life or being raised from the dead”, “and asked him” which means “and questioned Jesus”. Matthew shared how the “Sadducees” did not believe that a person could be raised from the dead, and they began to present their question to Jesus.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see yet another group of “religious leaders” who were attempting to question Jesus in a way that would “ensnare” Him. We might think this a futile practice by now as many attempts have been tried without any success, and still, the “Sadducees” made their attempt. God wants all people to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and if they come to Him sincerely with their questions, He is able to provide ample solutions. However, if their doubts and unbelief continue, they shall forever forsake eternal life with God.

Next time Matthew wrote how the Sadducees began to ask Jesus a question by saying “Moses said, If a man die, having no children”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.