18
Then came to Him a party of Sadducees, a sect which denies that there is any Resurrection; and they proceeded to question Him.
19
"Rabbi," they said, "Moses made it a law for us: `If a man's brother should die and leave a wife, but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.'
20
There were once seven brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife, but at his death left no family.
21
The second married her, and died, leaving no family; and the third did the same.
22
And so did the rest of the seven, all dying childless. Finally the woman also died.
23
At the Resurrection whose wife will she be? For they all seven married her."
24
"Is not this the cause of your error," replied Jesus--"your ignorance alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God?
25
For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels are in Heaven.
26
But as to the dead, that they rise to life, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?'
27
He is not the God of dead, but of living men. You are in grave error."
28
Then one of the Scribes, who had heard them disputing and well knew that Jesus had given them an answer to the point, and a forcible one, came forward and asked Him, "Which is the chief of all the Commandments?"