According To Luke: One Bride For Seven Brothers

According To Luke: One Bride For Seven Brothers

Opening Illustration:

Go To The Source

Jesus Is The Source For Revelations About The Resurrection!

Background and Context:

Jesus had just arrived in Jerusalem. When He entered the city, some received with with welcome and glad hearts while others were hell bent on trying to reveal Him as a fraud, trap Him in unanswerable questions, and if possible...kill Him. However, every time the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees tried to discredit Jesus, He seemed to slip out of their schemes and plow through their plots. They tried to trap Jesus by asking Him a question about taxes. Today we are introduced to the only time in Scripture where Jesus argues with the Sadducees. The Sadducees were considered outside the normal Jewish faith. They read only from Pentateuch, the Torah, while the Pharisees and others read also from the Prophets and Psalms as Scripture. Now the Sadducees, who had an ax to grind about the resurrection because they did not believe in the resurrection, decided that they would get in on the action of trying to discredit Jesus. After Jesus answered the question about taxes, they realized that they were going to have to come up with a real doozy of a question. How could they prove that Jesus was a fraud while at the same time put doubt in the minds of the people concerning the resurrection of the dead? We find this line of questioning in Luke 20:27-40. Let’s read this morning how Jesus responds to their question. 

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 20:27-40 ESV

[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.

Jesus’ Insights Into The Afterlife...

I. The Simplicity of Heaven 32-36

Luke 20:32-36 ESV

[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...

Point:

So, let’s examine the argument, the question, that the Sadducees present to Jesus. They explain to Jesus that there existed a woman who was married. Sadly her husband passes away. While she is married to her husband, they produce no offspring. 2000 years ago in the Middle East existed a largely patriarchal structure of marriage that protected women, specifically widowed women, by passing them down the line of living brothers in succession of oldest to youngest. This practice was common when a woman did not have a son to provide for her. So in this case, her husband dies and she is given in marriage to the next oldest brother. Believe it or not, this was a common practice. It seems a bit barbaric to us today but you have to remember there were no social program, no rights, no ministries, no welfare, no Medicare for women. This was it and this was all they had. Not only was it a common practice, it was also commanded in the Old Testament. 

Deuteronomy 25:5 NLT

“If two brothers are living together on the same property and one of them dies without a son, his widow may not be married to anyone from outside the family. Instead, her husband’s brother should marry her...to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law.

So the question is legitimate on it’s face. So her husband dies and she is passed to the next brother. That brother dies and still, no offspring. This pattern is repeated a total of 6 times. 

This woman is literally living a sad country song sort of life. I bet her dog died somewhere along the way as well. Goodness. 

Eventually, she dies. 

Good news. She goes to heaven. Bad news, who is her husband? 

Point:

You see, the Sadducees were hoping to stump Jesus. They were hoping to point out the incongruities of Deuteronomy if taken to an extreme. They were hoping that their question concerning the complexities of this world would somehow influence the afterlife.

Point:

What we will learn today is that the complexities of this world are non existent in the afterlife and that is a very good thing. Look at Jesus’ initial answer. Jesus states that men and women are given in marriage in the physical realm to produce life, to prolong life and to preserve life. Brothers and sisters, if you are married this morning, it is because God wants you to take part in the replication of life (to have children), God wants to enrich your lives (your spouse should make your life, your existence better and more pleasant because this world is a pretty rough place), and God wants you to live lengthy lives together. He wants you to grow old together. Marriage is a good thing. Marriage was the very first institution invented by God in Genesis 2:24. Marriage was a plan devised by God and given as a gift to men and women. That’s correct, marriage is not a gift to man and man or woman to woman but to man and woman. This institution was etched in the everlasting stone of God’s economy and is non negotiable. 

That being said, the complexities of Deuteronic law is not passed into the afterlife because in heaven people do not die. There is no need for marriage in heaven. Marriage on earth is given to produce life, to prolong life, and to preserve life. In heaven we find our purpose in fellowship with Jesus. It is Christ who gives us our everlasting and eternal life and Jesus who preserves our lives with Him in heaven. We we recognize our loved ones and remember those bonds we had with them on planet earth? Of course we will. 

Remember, there are no complexities in heaven. Not only will you instantly know and remember your loved ones, you will instantly know every person in heaven. No more remembering faces but not names. How awesome will that be? How do I know this to be true? Scripture of course! 

The writer to the Hebrews speaks of “the spirits of righteous people made perfect,” that is, the souls of believers in the presence of Jesus. These souls, he tells us, are gathered in “the assembly of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23). Right now, in heaven, the spirits of the righteous made perfect are gathered. Gathered means community, and community means relationship.

Here is another proof, the transfiguration of Christ. Read from Matthew 17. Jesus takes Peter, James and John with Himself up the mountain. While they are there Jesus is seen with Moses and Elijah. No where in the text does it say that introductions were made. No hands were shaken. Instantly and supernaturally Peter, James and John knew that they were in the presence of Moses and Elijah. 

I have been asked on a number of occasions if people in heaven, specifically loved ones, can see them and witness their lives. The answer is “yes”. People who have died and gone on to heaven remember you, recognize you, and are cheering for you. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Scripture tells us that the faithful who have tasted death are a part of a great cloud of witnesses. What are they witnessing? You and me of course. My grandparents are cheering me on right now! My aunt prays for me! 

Guys, it gets so much better. Again, the complexities of the world are fixed in the simplicity of heaven. No death. Are you kidding me? That’s right. No one dies in heaven. Marriage is an institution made for earth. In heaven, we are all in the perfect relationship with God our Father. There is no need for anything better or more. However, God has installed the entire data base of souls in heaven in our minds. We will be able to relate to our loved ones along with every other man, woman and child who was saved by the blood of Christ.

Friends, that is a lot of people. Perhaps billions, maybe trillions of people. Do you know what happens on earth when you take that many people and put them in to one place? War! War breaks out because eventually we step on each other’s toes. We take things that don’t belong to us. We think that we deserve to be at the front of the line and not at the back. Communication breaks down. Perhaps the most complex thing on this side of eternity is communication. However in heaven, there are no miscommunications. No disagreements. You’ll never be unfriended, blocked, disliked, shunned, or discarded. In heaven, there is perfect communication. How do I know this to be true? That’s right, Scripture!

In heaven, we will all speak with perfect understanding. In Acts 2 we see Peter preach his very first sermon. There were representatives from all over the Middle East in Jerusalem on that day. Potentially dozens of different languages were there and when Peter spoke, each person could understand in their own language what Peter was saying. We call this the gift of tongues. You see, in heaven we will not speak English, or French, or German. No! We will speak...well...heaven! That will be our language. It is God’s language. A Holy tongue that we do not have full skill of yet here on earth but when we die, we will instantly know it and speak it. 

Imagine that. No more death. No more miscommunication. No more misunderstanding. Every relationship perfect. Even the broken relationship here will be fixed and reunited in heaven. Heaven sounds awesome doesn’t it? Well I could keep going on and on about heaven but I will let the Apostle John finish this point. 

Revelation 21:1-4 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Jesus’ Insights Into The Afterlife...

I. The Simplicity of Heaven 32-36

II. The Sanctity of Heaven vs. 36

Luke 20:36

[36] for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 

Point:

Heaven is clearly a special place reserved for those who have experienced rebirth through salvation and the resurrection of the body and soul through the power of Christ. Heaven is sanctified. It is pure. It is holy and it is good. 

What makes heaven so special? What makes it so unusual? Remember the Sadducees believed that there was no resurrection. They believed that you were born, you lived your life, and then you’re dead. That’s it. End of story. So, if you do good things, you only have this life to experience those good things. Conversely, if you do evil things and are punished, you are only punished in the time you have. When you die, that’s it. You’re done. 

How does that sit with you? Imagine you are a Sadducee. You do not believe in the resurrection. Think about that for just a second and do your best to put yourself in that belief system. Are you there yet? Ok. Now, I wan to read some names for you.

Mao Zedong. Communist responsible for the death of 60 million people.

Joseph Stalin. Again, Communist responsible for the death of some 40 million people. In just 2 people we have killed 100 million people. 

Adolf Hitler. Responsible for 30 million Jews dead. 

Hideki Tojo. Japanese dictator during WWII who killed 5 million people. 

Saddam Hussein. Just 600,000 people dead under his leadership. 

Remember you are a Sadducee. There is no afterlife. After hearing these names, are you comfortable with the punishment that these men saw in their lifetimes? In your sense of human justice, do you feel that they deserve more than they received? I do!

You see the resurrection is proof of the sanctity of heaven but also proof of divine eternal justice. Heaven cannot be good, it cannot be just, it cannot be pure if evil goes unpunished and unrecognized. You see friends, the reason why heaven is such a holy place is because God’s justice is greater than my own. God does not let evil go unpunished. Let’s see what the Old Testament has to say, 

Isaiah 66:24 ESV

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Daniel 12:2 ESV

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Here is what John The Baptist had to say,

Matthew 3:12 ESV

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus had a lot to say about the punishment of the wicked in the afterlife, 

Luke 12:45-48 ESV

45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

And what about Paul,

Romans 2:5-9 ESV

5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek...

Point:

Oh brothers and sisters, heaven is a place of eternal reward. It is a place where justice has been delivered perfectly to those who have done evil and never sought redemption through Christ Jesus. In heaven, there is no division, no partisan politics being played, no fighting, rioting, protests, or racism. Heaven helps the believer know that God’s sense of justice is greater than the justice of man. Heaven is a place where everything is right. 

I Corinthians 2:9 ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Jesus’ Insights Into The Afterlife...

I. The Simplicity of Heaven 32-36

II. The Sanctity of Heaven vs. 36

III. The Superiority of Heaven vs. 36-39

Luke 20:36-39 ESV

[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."

Point:

Scripture says that when believers die, they will be “like angels”. What does that mean?

Does it mean, as some suppose, that we actually become angels? Or does it mean that in some way we become like angels?

Jesus brings up angels and states that we will be like them. Before we talk about what He means, let’s look for just a moment about these creatures and entities. They are shrouded in mystery and worldly misconceptions. 

Angels are spiritual beings created by God to work as His agents, messengers, and servants. They are sent to help those who inherit salvation.

Described as “mighty”, angels are not limited by the physical world, and they never die. Neither do they marry. Scripture expressly forbids the worship of angels.

Satan (the devil) was once an angel with great responsibility. He was called Lucifer, which means “light-bearer”. Scripture records that He desired to become like God and led a third of the angels in rebellion against God.

The Bible refers to “fallen angels”, “wicked spirits”, and “demons”. Satan and his ”angels” roam the earth, opposing and hindering the gospel and the work of God. 

Unlike angels, people were created in the image of God. Adam, the first man, was given authority to rule over the earth. Every individual has worth and a unique purpose. God loves every person and desires a personal relationship with each one.

In Scripture we see angels who are messengers, warriors, protectors worshippers, and guides. In each situation angels are doing the bidding of God.

Angels are powerful beings and superior to anything that we have ever seen here on earth. So superior are angels that people in the Bible have been tempted to worship them. 

However, man is more prized than the angels. Man was created in God’s image. Angels do not possess free will like men do. Angels cannot experience salvation and redemption like man. Angels will never be able to have a relationship with God like man. 

Friends, to be clear, men are men and angels are angels. When we die, we do not become angels and nor should we want to be angels. While angels are special, God has placed a superior importance on man. 

Man is important to Christ. Man is still important to Christ. 

This morning Jesus still wants a relationship with me and you. Jesus is the only way to that relationship. The only door. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Do you know Christ? Have you embraced Him? When Jesus talks about the sons of the resurrection, is He talking about you? When you die, will you enter heaven?

John 11:25 NLT

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

Go The Jesus Way! Embrace Christ!

According To Luke: One Bride For Seven Brothers

Opening Illustration:

Go To The Source

Jesus Is The Source For Revelations About The Resurrection!

Luke 20:27-40 ESV

Jesus’ Insights Into The Afterlife...

I. The Simplicity of Heaven 32-36

Revelation 21:1-4 ESV

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

II. The Sanctity of Heaven vs. 36

I Corinthians 2:9 ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

III. The Superiority of Heaven vs. 36-39

John 11:25 NLT

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

Go The Jesus Way! Embrace Christ!