The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection after death. They were not genuinely seeking answers from Yeshua in Luke 20, when they posed an elaborate, unrealistic question about resurrection. They were trying to trap Yeshua to somehow weakening the true argument about resurrection after death. They were disingenuous.
There are many like this today leading churches and getting rich on other people’s money, though they do not really believe. They are not really part of the body of Christ, but they pretend to be for personal honor and gain. They “…like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Is There a Resurrection?
27Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. 29“Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30and the second 31and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32“Finally the woman died also. 33“In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”
34Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like 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 burning 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 the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.” 39Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40For they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything.
41Then He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son?
42“For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
43UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’
44“Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?”
45And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Avoid men and women such as these. Pray for discernment. Refuse to assume everyone who claims to be a pastor or church leader is genuinely part of the body of Christ. Judge by their fruit and by their personal actions. Are they humble? Even great men can be humble. Billy Graham was humble. Abraham was humble. Many today, like in the past, were seeking personal profit and glory. Seek and follow Christ with those who genuinely seek Him also.
—-
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.