Resurrection Challenged

Sermon 86 in Series

Luke 20:27-40

[27] There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, [28] and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. [30] And the second [31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. [32] Afterward the woman also died. [33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”

[34] And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, [35] but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, [36] for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. [38] Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” [39] Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” [40] For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How have the religious leaders challenged Jesus from the beginning of his ministry? How are we seeing it rev up at this point?
2.  Who were the Sadducees, and how did they differ from the Pharisees? What were they expecting to accomplish with this conundrum they put before Jesus?
3.  What is Luke trying to get across to his readers during this section of the Gospel? What is he highlighting repeatedly about Jesus?
4.  What do the Sadducees misunderstand about marriage? How do Jesus’ comments inform your view of marriage and your approach to your spouse?
5.  How does this passage both excite you about what is to come and comfort you about Christian loved ones who have passed away? How does it motivate you to turn your attention towards heavenly things?
6.  How does Jesus prove his argument for the resurrection from Scripture? Why does he go to Exodus 3, and what are some other OT passages that reveal a future resurrection?

References: Acts 22:25 – 23:11 (corporate reading); Luke 14:14; 20:1; Acts 23:8; 4:1-2; Luke 5:30; Deuteronomy 25:5-6; Genesis 38:8-10; Ephesians 2:7; Matthew 22:29; Luke 18:13-14; 13:3; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55; Job 1:6; Romans 8:22-23; Ephesians 5:32; Daniel 12:2; Exodus 3:6, 15; Romans 14:8.