God of the Living (Matthew 22:23-33)

The Living God

Matthew 22:23-33

Sunday, December 7, 2025 — Land O’ Lakes Bible Church 

Introduction

The old saying is that there are two certainties in life, death and taxes. We considered taxes last week as we looked at Matthew 22:15-22 in a question put before Jesus. And this morning we have the subject of death. More particularly what happens after death. An important subject. 

According to an article [1] in the last few weeks from the Barna Group, it is reported that 63% of Americans believe in some kind of peaceful afterlife. And then only 39% believe that the peaceful afterlife will involve God in some way. 

But what about you? What do you think happens after death? And are you able to be confident in your belief and why so?  

That’s what I want us to consider this morning, what happens after death from our sermon passage.

Please then take out your Bible and turn to Matthew 22:23-33. Feel free to use the table of contents to find your place. Or if you are using one of the Red Pew Bibles there, you can find our passage on page #984. 

Over the last few weeks as we have been in Matthew 21-22, we have seen a back and forth confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders in Israel. Questions were asked by the religious leaders, followed by Jesus’ rebuke to their misguided questions. Questions from concern of children’s lips shouting Hosanna in the temple to on whose authority does Jesus do and teach these things. To trick questions that we began to see last week with the question about taxes. A question that Jesus’ answer caused the Pharisees to depart, at least momentarily, to lick their wounds. 

But now, another group comes and tries their luck at putting Jesus to the test. As we prepare to hear the word of the LORD this morning, let us remember these words from Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

And so, as we hear this word, may this word do its cutting and exposing work on our hearts and minds, so that we may better know and love our God! Let us now hear the word of the Lord from Matthew 22:23-33…

This morning is going to be a little bit different of a structure to the sermon. For as we just read, there are two clear sections from the text. There is the question from the Sadducees there in V.23-28. And then the second section is Jesus’ response there in V.29-32. Then a response in V.33. 

Normally, these sections would form the points of the sermon. But this morning, rather, we are going to consider V.23-28 as a longer intro. And then have V.29 shape our two points with V.30-33 unfolding those points. 

For in taking this approach, I think we see the main point of this passage better and more clearly. So here is that main idea then of Matthew 22:23-33…

Main Idea: The power of God and the word of God give us certainty of the coming resurrection. 

The Power of God 

The Word of God

For point #1, we see this in verses 29-30, and then for point #2, we see this there in verse 29, along with verses 31-32.

As to who these Sadducees are, they are one of the three main schools of Jewish thought in the days of Jesus. As we see here in V.23 of our passage, this group does not think there to be a resurrection. This differs from the Pharisees and other groups, who do think there to be a resurrection. For we read in Acts 23:8, 

Acts 23:8 ESV

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

From this theological view point of the Sadducees, though deeply wrong, they then believe that this life is all that there is. And they seek to live in a way pursuing the rewards of this life. And so, they pursue power and prominence. A pursuit that has helped them to work more closely with Rome, and so they were given the ability to serve as the chief priest and be over the temple [2].

And so, they though different from the Pharisees, are like them in that they do not have an interest in Jesus. And they come with their rejection of the resurrection to try and ensnare Jesus with a question. A question that they hope will show the ridiculousness (in their eyes) of such a concept. And so they put him to the test, verses 24-28…

Even as the question begins, notice that same deception by both the Pharisees and the Sadducees with their use of flattery. For they call Jesus here teacher, yet seek not to learn from him, but plot an attempt to trap him with a tricky situation in their question. A situation involving a matter of the law. 

For the law according to Deuteronomy 25:5–10 states: 

Deuteronomy 25:5–10 ESV

5 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7 And if the man does not wish to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, ‘I do not wish to take her,’ 9 then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ 10 And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal pulled off.’

This law, though stated, is not found often in being carried out in the Old Testament. But there is one prominent place of it. And that comes in Genesis 38. For in Genesis 38, we see that this is carried out with the sons of Judah. His oldest son dies, having married but no child. And the second son is to go in and produce seed for his brother, but rebels and is killed. And in the end, the Lord works through this mess of a situation for his glory. Glory that leads to Jesus himself. 

But considering this law, and the scenario in the question, what do you do with this law and the resurrection? For essentially they are saying, how do you hold to this law and it playing out in the resurrection if it be true? For if these seven brothers all have the same wife, then in the resurrection, is she going to be married to all 7 or taken from 6 and given to only 1? 

A tricky question to try and derail the idea of the resurrection. And yet, Jesus gives us two clear reasons we can be confident in the resurrection. Those 2 reasons then are now our two points to this sermon. Both coming from verse 29. We deal with the first point now. 

1. The Power of God

Again in verse 29, we read…

Jesus tells these Sadducees that they are wrong. They are wrong with their question. And they are wrong with their perception of the resurrection. We start with the second from v.29 and the power of God, because that is what Jesus unfolds first in V.30 where we read…

The Sadducees are wrong in these matters, because they do not know the power of God in neither the resurrection itself or resurrection life. 

For with the Sadducees question, they presume that things will be like they are now in this life with their question on marriage if the resurrection was to be true, though they deny it as true. 

Marriage in this life was sacred. It was a gift from God in the very beginning to his image bearers. For the Lord in creation, created them male and female. He established a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. 

And it was in the confines of marriage, that God’s mission mandate in creation to multiply and fill the earth was to be carried out. For man and woman were to procreate (that is multiply) and have children.

So, the Sadducees presume then that this glorious institution of marriage would continue on as in something like the resurrection if it were true. 

But again Jesus says they are wrong here. For they do not know the power of God. For in the resurrection, life does not continue just as it is here in the first creation. Life will be different as a result to the power of God. 

For in the resurrection, the power of God is not to just be seen in the raising of those whose bodies were dead and bringing them back to life, it was that by his power, he would make all things new, even in regards to man and marriage. 

This is why he says, that in the resurrection, we will neither marry or be given in marriage. Instead he says, we will be like the angels. 

Now, hear that carefully. He did not say that we will become angels. He said that we will become like angels. 

There is this notion by many, maybe even some of you, that when we die we become angels and get our angel wings. 

The notion is so popular, one popular Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, has one character in the movie trying to earn his angel wings as he is sent to help the main character, George Bailey through a tough crisis. Clarence is thought to then get his wings after helping George. So sorry Clarence, there are no angel wings for you. 

For to be made like angels is not to become them in receiving their wings and being angels ourselves. To become like angels is to take their nature in not being sexual beings given in marriage. But to be servants of the LORD, given wholly and completely to him! 

Marriage was a beautiful gift of God for this life, in this mortal flesh. But it from the beginning pointed to an even greater marriage, our marriage to the LORD himself! [3]

Therefore,  in the resurrection we are not to be united to one another in marriage, but to be united fully with our Redeemer! For this is the power of God. To remove us from the things of this world, both good and bad, and to make all things new. Where man dwell with God forever and ever under the perfect rule of God with the fullness of the number of God’s people forever! 

For even as we contemplate this, let me point you to the majesty of God’s power. For consider in this world how hesitant we are to allow people in. Knowing that to let people in makes us vulnerable. And so, we typically allow only a small group in. Our spouse being the one we are most vulnerable with. And then maybe a few other close family members and friends, we let in close, but not as close as our spouse. 

Well, in the resurrection, the power of God will be at work to continue those relationships. Not exactly how they were. It is likely that we certainly will recognize one another in the resurrection. But the closeness of our relationships will be in closer, and the guard will come down with all others. For in the resurrection, there is no need of guard from sinfulness, as all sin is wiped away and all live perfectly and joyfully under the rule of God together in harmony with one another! Come Lord Jesus come! 

For in the resurrection, the LORD is completing this work of renewal! A renewal  even already at work in those who by faith have come to Jesus! A power that has delivered us from the domain of darkness through the blood of Christ. The power at work in us, making us new and conforming us to Christ. 

A power throughout Redemptive history that we have seen at work in other ways. For did not even for these Sadducees, God show his power in delivering Israel from their slavery in Egypt through the bringing about of 10 plagues? And the parting of the Red Sea, and the sustaining of the people in the wilderness for forty years? 

It is this same power of God then that will bring about this newness in the resurrection, making man to be like the angels, no longer as those given in marriage. It is this power that will bring us to being fully devoted to our God without any divided attention. 

This is far better! For in this power of God in the resurrection, we are experiencing the power of God turn back the curse of sin and death in complete fullness as we are raised to new life! Life not lived at our weakest, but at our strongest. 

A life captured well by Daniel Doriani who writes [4]:

“Humans cannot reverse death, but the power of God can do better than to reverse death. He does not resuscitate a seventy-year-old, who comes back to life burdened with the same scars, the same limp and stiffness, the same ravages of age. When God raises a woman, whatever her age at death, it is to that form of her youth when she was at the height of her powers, whether physical, mental, or emotional, and he enables her to retain those powers forever.”

This is the power of God at work in the resurrection. Not just simply to leave things how they were in this life ravaged by sin, but to make them new and good and glorious again!

Therefore, let us not presume that Resurrection life will be as things are now. Will we play golf as one friend of mine during seminary used to argue? If God wills it, sure. But the power of God will be at work in making all things new.

That’s point #1, the power of God. 

2. The Word of God

Again, back to verse 29, where we read again…

We just looked at how Jesus confronted them in their wrongness for missing the power of God. Now, we zoom in on the other reason they were wrong. For they did not know the word of God. 

The Old Testament had clear references to the coming resurrection. 

Isaiah 26:19 ESV

19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

Job 19:25–27 ESV

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

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.

But there is a problem, these Sadducees do not hold to anything outside of the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible. The 5 books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are there only recognized Bible. They deem it to be God’s only authoritative word. 

So, despite there being clear references to these in what we would rightly recognize as part of the canon of Scripture, Jesus challenges them from what they acknowledge in the Pentateuch. V.31-32…

Jesus uses his familiar phrase here, have you not read. Knowing with certainty that they had indeed read it, but failed to rightly understand its depths. In their newer condensed Systematic Theology, Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley rightly state, [5]

“God requires us to ponder what he says about himself and recognize its logical implications.”

For this is precisely what the Sadducees have failed to do. They have failed to rightly read and ponder the depths of God’s word in how he has revealed himself and the implications of such a view of himself. 

Jesus here doesn’t just point to an obscure passage either. He points to the very well known scripture of God’s appearing to Moses in the burning bush from Exodus 3:6. Jesus quotes this verse there in verse 32, which again reads…

God had revealed himself here to Moses. Revealing himself to not have been the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He instead said I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 

This seems like a slight distinction, but this small distinction has massive implications with it. For God is not as Jesus says the God of the dead. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been in their graves now for over 400 years. Their bones decaying. 

But God reveals himself to Moses not as the God of these dead fathers, but as their God in the present with ongoing implications! Revealing that these who entered into his redemptive covenant, continue to remain in his covenant. For though their bodies at present lay in a tomb, their spirit dwells with God awaiting future resurrection! 

The Sadducees had missed this significant statement from their careless reading of the Scriptures. And therefore missed how even in the Pentateuch, God has given clues of the coming resurrection, the very thing the Sadducees have objected to being possible. 

This incident between the Sadducees and Jesus should caution us to be more careful readers of the Scriptures. To slow down and ponder the words carefully about what is being said. For too often we come to wrong conclusions, just like the Sadducees from wrong and careless readings of the Scriptures. 

Let us then be in the regular habit of coming to the word of God and asking that the Lord most graciously open our eyes to behold the wondrous things of him in the reading of his word and let us carefully ponder what we read and meditate and dwell upon it, seeking the aide of others when we are uncertain. For the word of God is what reveals to us the truth of who God is and the implications for us, not just in regards to the resurrection, but in all matters regarding God and man. 

But of the most importance, we should see that this word of God speaks of the resurrection. It foretells of a coming resurrection as we have seen already in these Old Testament passages of Exodus, Job, Isaiah, and Daniel. But even now, Jesus has already told us at this point in Matthew on three occasions that he would be handed over to death and be raised on the third day. 

A word that was fulfilled. For three days from the encounter here in our passage, Jesus would be handed over and sentenced to death on a cross. 

Gospel…Go (Emphasizing the Resurrection!

Apply!

Conclusion

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Endnotes

[1] Article. www.arizonachristian.edu/2025/11/25/crc_americans_hold_conflicted_views_of_salvation/ [2] See Acts 4, 5 [3] See Ephesians 5:22-33

[4] Daniel M. Doriani, Matthew & 2, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2008), 303.

[5] Joel R. Beeke & Paul M. Smalley. Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology. (Wheaton, IL, Crossway, 2025) 90.