Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
At that time, some Sadducees – those who claim that the resurrection does not exist – came to Jesus and asked him this question: «Teacher, Moses commanded us this: If a man has a brother who dies leaving a wife but no children, he must take the widow as his wife in order to give offspring to his brother.
Now there were seven brothers: the first married and died childless; likewise the second, then the third took the widow as a wife, and so on for all seven: they all died without leaving children. Finally, the woman also died.
So, during the resurrection, "Whose wife will this woman be, since all seven had her as their wife?"»
Jesus answered them, «The inhabitants of this age marry among themselves, but those who are considered worthy to enter the age to come and to the resurrection Those who are dead do not marry, for they can no longer die: they are like the angels, they are children of God and children of the resurrection.
That the dead return to life is implied by Moses himself in the passage of the burning bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. For all live to him.»
Then some scribes spoke up and said, "Teacher, you have answered correctly." And they dared not ask him any more questions.
Living as a child of the resurrection: exploring the Gospel of Luke 20:27-40 for a living and embodied faith
Understand the resurrection and its concrete implications through Jesus' teaching to the Sadducees.
The dialogue between Jesus and the Sadducees in Luke 20:27-40 sheds light on our faith in the resurrection, This central but often misunderstood doctrine is addressed in this article, which is for all those seeking to deepen their understanding of this biblical truth while integrating it concretely into their daily lives, with a particular focus on the living faith that transforms our relationship to death, marriage, and the eternal future. Through a richly argued analysis, it offers a theological journey that nourishes reflection and stimulates spiritual practice.
The analysis begins with the context and the source text, clarifying the question posed by the Sadducees and Jesus' response. Then, the study offers a structured analysis of the major themes: the nature of the resurrection, the identity of the children of God, and life after death. Finally, these teachings nourish practical applications in personal, community and ecclesial life, supported by traditional resonances and avenues for meditation.
Responding to the Sadducees' protest
Luke 20:27-40 places us in a tense context between Jesus and a religious group, the Sadducees, known for their refusal to the resurrectionThe Sadducees challenged Jesus with a question based on the practice of levirate marriage according to Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10), imagining a case where a woman successively married seven brothers without having children. Their question aimed to ridicule the faith in the resurrection by asking which brother the woman will be the wife of the resurrection.
Jesus responds by clearly distinguishing earthly reality from relationships after the resurrection. He specifies that in the world to come, there is no more marriage or death, because the resurrected become like angels, children of God and children of the resurrection. He then anchors this hope in Scripture, citing the passage of the burning bush where God presents himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, emphasizing that he is "God of the living" and that all live for him.
This fundamental passage underscores the truth that the resurrection is a radical transformation of existence, a gushing forth towards divine and eternal life, beyond the earthly limits that condition our human life.
Life in God, not death, defines existence
The central idea of this passage is that God is the God of the living, not of the dead. This refutes the reductionist view that considers man simply as a material being destined to cease to exist permanently. The resurrection is the promise of a new life in which earthly social relationships such as marriage lose their purpose, superseded by a spiritual reality.
Jesus' response contains several major theological themes:
- The distinction between earthly life and eternal life: the resurrection it is not limited to a return to a life biologically similar to the first, but to a new qualitative existence.
- Participation in divine life as children of God and resurrection: this transformation makes the resurrected into new beings, "like the angels".
- The scriptural basis of the resurrection in God's Revelation to Moses, confirming his living covenant with the patriarchs.
With this response, Jesus reaffirms the eschatological perspective of salvation, which radically humanizes death by giving it a horizon of hope and immortality.
To live in the present as a child of the resurrection
This first section explores how the resurrection Even now, this is transforming the way we experience life, our relationships, and especially marriage. Since death no longer has definitive power over us, we can live without fear and with confidence. Marriage becomes a prophetic sign of our ultimate union with God.
Death overcome, earthly relationships transfigured
Jesus teaches that earthly relationships do not continue unchanged in the afterlife. This perspective invites us to reconsider our attachments and to orient our human relationships toward their spiritual and eternal dimension. The communion of saints in eternity thus transcends finite bonds.
Christ, the first to rise from the dead and the foundation of our hope
The testimony of the risen Christ is at the heart of the Christian faith. His resurrection is the guarantee and the model for all. Through it, believers find the strength to overcome the fear of death and to live in active hope.
Concrete implications in life
Personal life
- Overcoming the fear of death in order to live life to the fullest.
- To engage in relationships marked by a vocation to eternal life.
- Cultivate a confident faith in the divine promise.
Family and social life
- To find prophetic signs in marriage and family love eternal.
- To live as children of God, united in faith, beyond earthly limits.
Church and missionary life
- Proclaiming the victory of life over death in pastoral care.
- To encourage hope through the proclamation of the Gospel.
- To educate for a life in accordance with the heavenly calling.
Traditional resonances
The Church, through its Fathers, has constantly insisted on the resurrection as the central reality of faith. Augustine sees in it the complete redemption of humankind, and the communion of saints as the anticipation of this new life. The Easter liturgy celebrates this victory over death. Theologically, the resurrection reveals the creative and liberating power of God, and gives ultimate meaning to human life.
This statement is part of the great patriarchal tradition evoked by Jesus, thus linking faith and history, promise and fulfillment.
Renewing your faith in eternal life in 5 steps
- Read Luke 20:27-40 slowly, imagining the faces of the people you are talking to.
- Visualizing life after the resurrection, without death or social constraint.
- Meditate on the phrase "God is the God of the living".
- To ask oneself: how does my faith in the resurrection Is it transforming my relationships today?
- Pray, asking for the grace of a living and trusting faith.
Current challenges
Faced with secularization and skepticism about life after death, faith in the resurrection is challenged. Questions about personal continuity after death are frequent. The Christian faith insists on radical transformation, not mere physical survival.
Furthermore, in our societies where marriage is changing, Jesus' teachings remind us of the transcendence of human relationships, inviting us to open ourselves to the divine dimension. The Christian response brings light and meaning to these challenges.
Prayer
Alleluia. Alleluia. Our Savior, Christ Jesus, has destroyed death; he has brought life to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.
Living Lord God, who calls Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to eternal life, make us children of the resurrection. Grant us the grace to live from this day forward free from the fear of death, united in love that transcends time. Transform our hearts so that, like the angels, we may be faithful to your promise. May your Spirit sustain us in trials and, through your risen Son, may we taste the fullness of eternal life. Amen.
Conclusion
Dialogue with the Sadducees allows us to grasp the liberating power of the resurrection proclaimed by Jesus. This truth is not merely an abstract doctrine: it transforms our lives, our relationships, and our hope. To embrace this faith in the God of the living is to enter into a new reality, to face death without fear, and to build a future founded on eternal life.
Practical ways to experience the resurrection today
- Reread Luke 20:27-40 regularly to nourish your faith.
- Applying faith in eternal life during difficult times.
- Celebrating Christ's victory over death in prayer and liturgy.
- To experience relationships with an eschatological perspective.
- To accompany the sick and dying with the hope of the resurrection.
- To bear witness to this faith through words and deeds.
- Integrate the lessons of the resurrection in lifestyle choices.
Bibliographic references
- Bible, Gospel according to Luke 20:27-40.
- Saint Augustine, City of God, Book XXII.
- Michael Lawrence, A Practical Guide to Biblical Theology, 2022.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, articles 988-1019 on the resurrection.
- Yves Congar, The Mystery of Time, 1956.
- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III.
- Liturgical document: Preface of the resurrection, Roman Missal.
