Matthew 22:23-46

Marriage When the Dead Rise

23 That same day the Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. They do not believe that people rise from the dead.

24 "Teacher," they said, "here is what Moses told us. If a man dies without having children, his brother must get married to the widow. He must have children to carry on his brother's name.

25 There were seven brothers among us. The first one got married and died. Since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.

26 The same thing happened to the second and third brothers. It happened right on down to the seventh brother.

27 Finally, the woman died.

28 Now then, when the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven of them were married to her."

29 Jesus replied, "You are mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God.

30 When the dead rise, they won't get married. And their parents won't give them to be married. They will be like the angels in heaven.

31 "What about the dead rising? Haven't you read what God said to you?

32 He said, 'I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.'(Exodus 3:6) He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living."

33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed by what he taught.

The Most Important Commandment

34 The Pharisees heard that the Sadducees weren't able to answer Jesus. So the Pharisees got together.

35 One of them was an authority on the law. So he tested Jesus with a question.

36 "Teacher," he asked, "which is the most important commandment in the Law?"

37 Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.'(Deuteronomy 6:5)

38 This is the first and most important commandment.

39 And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'(Leviticus 19:18)

40 Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments."

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 The Pharisees were gathered together. Jesus asked them,

42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied.

43 He said to them, "Then why does David call him 'Lord'? The Holy Spirit spoke through David himself. David said,

44 " 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your control." ' (Psalm 110:1)

45 So if David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be David's son?"

46 No one could answer him with a single word. From that day on, no one dared to ask him any more questions.