A Loaded Question About The Resurrection - Matthew 22:23-33

Introduction: How many of you live a very full life, and at the end of the day you are totally exhausted? Anyone living like that?

   Whenever I tell Debbie that I’m tired she responds to me, “You’ll have time to sleep when you are dead.”

   I have read that only 26% of Americans report getting at least eight hours of sleep nightly (the amount many experts recommend).

· There is work.

· There is parenting.

· There are sports.

· There are chores.

· There are appointments.

· There are nutritional/health factors.

· There is social media fatigue.

· There is political stress (A Pew study found 66% of Americans feel worn out by political stress).

   Life can wear us out—but Jesus reminds us that this life is not all there is. For the believer the next thing on God’s calendar of events is the Resurrection (unless you happen to be caught up in the Rapture).

   In today’s text, the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, tried to trap Jesus with a loaded question about the very thing that they said they didn’t believe in. And in Jesus’ wisdom, He not only silenced them but also gave us incredible hope about life after death.

1. The Sadducees Approach Jesus – 22:23

   23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,

   Who are the Sadducees? They were one of the main Jewish religious and political groups during the time of Jesus and the early church (roughly 2nd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.). They are mentioned several times in the New Testament, often in opposition to Jesus and the apostles (e.g., Matthew 22:23–34; Acts 4:1–2).

   What did the Sadducees believe? They accepted only the Torah (the first five books of Moses) as authoritative, rejecting oral traditions that the Pharisees embraced. They denied the resurrection of the dead, angels, and spirits (see Acts 23:8). They emphasized free will and human responsibility, whereas the Pharisees leaned more toward divine sovereignty and fate. The Sadducees were wealthy, politically influential, and often cooperated with Rome to maintain their power. Theologians saw them as the liberal party within first century A.D. Judaism.

  The Sadducees ceased to exist as a group after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. Since their influence was tied to the Temple, once the temple was destroyed by the Romans, their power and identity collapsed.

   Theologian D.A. Carson notes: “The Sadducees’ rejection of resurrection was not because Scripture was silent, but because their worldview could not make room for the power of God.”

2. The Sadducees Mention Moses’ Teaching – 22:24

   24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

   The Sadducees mention the teachings of “Moses”. This again is important because the Sadducees only accepted the Pentateuch (first five book of Moses). To them Moses’ writings were authoritative. They rejected oral traditions that the Pharisees embraced.

   Did Moses teach what the Sadducees present here? The answer is, yes. This is the law of the Levirate marriage. We read about it in Deuteronomy 25:5-6,

5 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.

   This Levirate law had three purposes:

1. It persevered the family line of the brother that died.

2. It protected widows. Many widows were vulnerable and were taken advantage of.

3. It helped keep the land and property within the same tribe and family.

   The levirate law is mentioned in Genesis 38:8 for the first time,

   8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”

  In that Genesis account, Onan didn’t Fulfill his responsibility. Scripture tells us that God judged him for his disobedience, and he died.

   Now, the Sadducees were going to try and use the levirate law to trap Jesus. They come to Him with one of the most bazaar stories found in the Bible.

3. The Sadducees Propose a Hypothetical Situation – 22:25-27

   25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

   This is a made-up story – it never happened. The Sadducees were using a far-fetched hypothetical story to make belief in the resurrection sound absurd.

   I read this and I thought to myself, “How awful that a woman would have seven husbands and that all of them died.” That was my first thought. Then I thought, “If I were husband three, I would have ran.” He recorded for keeping her husband’s alive wasn’t good. Finally, I thought – “Black Widow! Stay away!”

   Now, the question that the Sadducees ask Jesus is found in verse 28,

 “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

  Remember, their intent is to trap Jesus. But also remember, you CAN’T trap Jesus!

4. The Sadducees are Scripturally Corrected – 22:29-32

   29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Jesus provides a sound and solid Biblical answer for their question. Even though they had invented an outlandish story, our Lord responded with truth that will utterly astonish them. They will be left without reply.

A. Jesus tells them that they are “mistaken” – 22:29

      29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

   The Greek word for “mistaken” (planao) means “to be lead astray or to be made to wander about.” They were deceived in their thinking – their thinking had departed from truth.

   Many today are likewise deceived because they do not think biblically. They have only a natural worldview. Think through natural eyes and think with a natural mind and you arrive at a natural conclusion.

  We read in 1 Corinthians 2:14,

   “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

   Without the Spirit of God people think with only human reasoning and worldly wisdom.

B. Jesus tells them that they did not know the Scripture – 22:29

      29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

   Jesus says to them, “not knowing the Scriptures.” Many a people have misunderstanding when it comes to Bible doctrine simply because they don’t adequately know the Scripture. These Sadducees should have known the Scripture, after all they were students of the Torah (first five books of Moses).

   The Greek word for “knowing” carries with it the idea of having information that results in understanding.

   They should have had knowledge and understanding. After all, the Bible says a lot about the resurrection. Here is what we read,

Job 19:26 – “After my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.”

Psalm 16:9–11 – David spoke of God not abandoning His Holy One to the grave.

Isaiah 26:19 – “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise.”

Daniel 12:2 – “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.”

   The Sadducees should have read the Old Testament and should have known this. But they refused to accept any Scripture after the first-five books of the Bible. No wonder they were Sadd-U-cees.

C. Jesus tells them that they did not know the power of God – 22:29

      29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

   Jesus tells them that they have limited God’s power only to the earthly realm. Natural people only think in natural terms.

   In Scripture we read,

   “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14).

   Additional Scripture: Jeremiah 32:17,27; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37).

   The oblivious answer is, “NO, nothing is too hard for God.”

   James Montgomery Boice penned, “As if there is some problem that God Himself could not handle, some puzzle He could not solve, some knot He could not untangle. They do not “know…the power of God.”

   Note: I do think that we need to understand that just because God can do anything, doesn’t mean that He will do anything. God never does anything against his nature and character.

   You are aware that God is called: Almighty God?

D. Jesus tells them that they don’t understand the Resurrection – 22:30

    30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

  Jesus makes it very clear that in the resurrection that people are not married, nor are they given in marriage.

  Jesus says that people are like the angels of God in heaven.

  Angels are sexless beings. Although they are given male names in Scripture – Michael and Gabriel. They are not sexual beings. Angels are not married, and they don’t have families.

  Warren Wiersbe wrote, “There will be no need for marriage in the next life because there will be no death. Therefore, it will not be necessary to bear children to replace those who die.”

E. Jesus tells them that they didn’t understand the Afterlife – 22:31-32

   31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

   Keep in mind that the Sadducees said that they believed in the teachings of Moses, and so Jesus stays in the Torah, and He teaches them from the writings of Moses. He asked them if they had not read what God had said to them, and then he quotes what God had said to them in verse 32,

   ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

  Jesus’ quote is what God said to them in Exodus 3:6,

    Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

  The two words, “I am” are in the present tense. This is telling us that God is still the God of these Patriarchs. These words imply continuing existence.

   God is the eternal “I am.”

Jesus is teaching that these men are still alive.

  John MacArthur comments, “God’s covenant relationship with His people cannot be terminated by death. His promises demand resurrection.”

  On September 26, 2025, renowned Baptist pastor Voddie Baucham died at the age of 56. He believed in the resurrection. Listen to the way he explains it. (Watch his video).

   The Pharisees did not understand the afterlife. Jesus did! And you and I who know Jesus Christ understand the resurrection. Amen!

5. The Multitudes were Astonished at His Teaching – 22:33

   33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

   Where are the Sadducees now? Nothing is said in this verse about the response of the Sadducees. It speaks of the multitudes, and their response. Look at how the crowd reacted to the discussion between Jesus and the religious Sadducees. We read,

   “they were astonished at His teaching.”

   The word “astonished” means more than being surprised; it is profound wonder and awe. The people recognized that Jesus poke with divine authority and wisdom.

   Before I bring this to a close look at verse 34,

   “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.”

   Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees silenced them. They walked away with nothing to say.

   Conclusion: What do we discover in this Scripture? We discover that the Sadducees could not trap Jesus, and that Jesus schooled the Sadducees. He taught them the following spiritual truths:

· There are no loaded questions that Scripture cannot answer.

· Misunderstanding of Scripture doesn’t negate biblical truth (like the Resurrection).

· Not knowing Scripture is the real reason for ignorance of biblical understanding.

· Never underestimate the power of God – nothing is too hard for the LORD (Genesis 18:14).

· The afterlife has more to it than the human mind can fully comprehend. God has prepared the place for us (John 14).  

· God is the God of the living and not the dead. “I am” is present tense – people are still living. Physical dead believers are NOW Living Saints. Don’t you believe it when they say, “Kim Alexander is dead. I will not be dead. I will be more alive than, than I am today.”

· We should be astonished every time we investigate the teachings of Jesus Christ. He was the master teacher. His teaching should strike awe and wonder into our lives.

   Isn’t this GOOD? Say it, “It’s GOOD!”