Jesus teaches us to find answers in scripture and in the power of God
Jewish "denominations" in Jesus' time believed different things about death. Some believed that the soul did not die with the body, but would be resurrected. Others believed that death was really the end of both the soul and the body. Some believed in angels and some didn't. In the text today, it seems someone very crafty wants to use these theological disagreements to further raise the tension surrounding Jesus' teachings.
Matthew 22:23-33 23 The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26 The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman herself died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Jesus points them to scripture and to the power of God for the answers to their questions. Apparently had they understood scripture to be an authoritative witness and God's power to be unlimited, they wouldn't have been confused. But they were using their own logic to reason what God might be like.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that an understanding of scripture and trust in the power of God gives us answers we can not gain through rational thought?
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