Marriage Made in Heaven?

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, '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" (Matthew 22:30-32).

Jesus exposed the totally unbiblical theology of the Sadducees with His response to their challenge. He authoritatively declared the reality of physical resurrection, of angels, of heaven, and of eternal life. Furthermore, Jesus cited a text from the Book of Exodus 3:6, a book recognized as authoritative by the Sadducees, I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, declaring the Lord to be the God of those who had died but are yet alive.

Jesus also corrected their theology, and that of the Pharisees, by stating that marriage is a temporal institution created by God for human pleasure and procreation on earth. It is not an institution recognized in heaven. Why? Because there is no birthing of children there, and there is no dying there. There are no limited relationships there because everyone is spiritually, intimately, and perfectly related to each other.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:12, Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known, means that he, and we, shall have as full and complete a knowledge of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the angels, and all the saints as we are capable of having. It will be like, though not equal to, the knowledge God has of us. All knowledge of earthly relationships will pale in comparison to the knowledge we will have in heaven. As Billy Graham said, “. . . the Bible indicates we will know each other more fully than we do now.” Others say the knowledge we will have in heaven will be more complete and that we will not be preoccupied with knowing who our wife, husband, parents, children, siblings, etc. were in this life, though that doesn’t mean we won’t know them in heaven.

The point is, even though we may know each other in heaven more fully than we know each other here, the relationships we have here will not translate over to heaven. Therefore, the analogy the Sadducees used from Mosaic Law to try and trap Jesus is false - it’s not taught in Scripture at all. It was simply a provision God made for the Israelites so that the tribal families would not die out for the lack of a son to carry on the family bloodline.

“Holy Spirit, give us wisdom to see through the questions, analogies, and examples non-believers use to trap us into contradicting the truth of Your Word. Give us spiritual insight into Scripture so that we may give every person an answer for the hope that resides within us. To the glory and honor of Jesus Christ I ask, Amen.”

Pastor