Matthew 22:23-33
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Looking at the events of the Bible, up close, for emotional responses even in God-indwelling and His Good Plan.
Today, we don't spend a lot of time wondering what happens to a woman married to 7 brothers. The family probably dreaded all this by the second or third marriage. You have to wonder if they wanted to leave town. This parable really is about learning to be part of Heaven when the wild winds of life howl.
The family had integrity to hang in when it was not comfortable. Integrity in discomfort. Heart to go the distance.
These hearts wondered what God would do with Alllll This.
This is a God question - a good heart. Looking at eternity. Doing what is right even when it's without apparent blessing.
Jesus was not dealing with perfection in the Sadducees. Even with the Pharisees, with the religious law - they were making a mistake - just to ask. Jesus was pleased they asked and looked to Him.
This is an integrity question to ask the destination of the people around us.
Perhaps we don't even spend time wondering if the people around us will be given Heaven. We, fortunately, live in an age of increasing medical knowledge and antibiotics. More and more people wonder if God would be so cruel as to have a Hell and place His creation in Hell if we don't believe Jesus Christ is His Son. I've had two people say this to me just recently. It isn't that God chooses hell for people, it is they do not choose to know God, who is loving.
The Sadducees believed in no resurrection. The Pharisees believed in religious appearances, and all were told by Jesus daily - He believed more in mercy than sacrifice.
Jesus is sincere.
Jesus is the same with all people.
Jesus is doing the right thing for the right reason.
We, this generation, are more like Genesis 2 and 3.
We are vastly different from God - God looked upon emptiness and -
God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
God called the expanse Heaven. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. And God saw that it was good.
God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
And God blessed them.
God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
At least the Sadducees were astonished at His teaching...
GOD HAS A HEART - LIKE GOD! God saw everything that He has made
and BEHOLD, it was good!
God sees emptiness and gives, gives, gives and creates. He sees His Creation with gratitude for His filling this with His Goodness. God sees Goodness. He blesses His creation. We - look upon our Spiritual judgments of God's justice - and feel full.
God wants us to be filled with Love, Joy, Peace and Patience. In a straight forward fashion. We can rely upon God. Then we can see God better and rely on Him more.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
And the Lord God
commanded the man, saying,
“You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Can mankind really feel comfortable judging the LORD? In our ease, we de-bunk the validity of Scriptures, usually without being informed. Relying instead on our own limited time and intuition on earth. The conversation continues today:
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “ 'Did God actually say', ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
(Emphasis color change added to represent the seed of doubt sown prolifically.)
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
We invite the LORD into our conversations about Jesus being the only way into Heaven. We invite Him to be part of the "how can God be so unjust"... conversations.
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God."
The saved are not to be arrogant or proud.
Abraham was saved for Believing God would save in Mercy. God Adored the Belief of Abraham and called him righteous - just for Believing Good of God.
We cannot judge God's plan of salvation for the unsaved. We shine as lights, not as wet blankets. We do not allow Jesus to be pulled from His Divinity, but we are not placed to judge God's plan of salvation for the weak.
Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
What do we say to the lost, the wondering, the pensive? .... Ask them if they don't limit God by the limitations of human weakness.... they will find answers for themselves if they will seek, knock, but the first step should begin.
God has the power to graft them in again.
Jesus spoke on salvation - Who gives us salvation?
Matthew 19:25-26
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Luke 18:1b
They ought always to pray and not lose heart
Father God,
By Your Word alone, the Universe, the Heavens exist. You commanded Light to come into all of mankind through You and the Light that shines in all of Mankind is Jesus.
We pray to uphold Your Word that the Light of prayer and Hope keeps those who have the ears to hear are in awe of You, Father God.
We thank You for helping us to be encouragers, we give thanks for those who encourage, we give thanks for people who encourage each other with specific words of trust and belief in goodness to come forth. We give thanks for those who pray for each other.
We ask blessing, comfort, help, guidance, protection and joy - for those we Love. For those who God Himself has given us. We lift up the Churches believing in Jesus Christ. We lift up the leaders leading us to more Heaven on Earth for this Nation. And those around the earth, let the Nations of God be held high for Blessings. In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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