23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


This passage is about Jesus talking with the Sadducees and the Pharisees about the law. In Jesus’ time, the Sadducees were religious leaders and elites centered around the temple priests. They did not believe in the resurrection. 

1.  verses 23–33, they asked Jesus a difficult question.

“There were seven brothers among us. The first one got married and died without children, so his wife was given to his brother. The same thing happened to the second, third, and all seven brothers. Finally, the woman also died. So when people rise again, whose wife will she be, since all of them married her?”

They meant that if resurrection is real, it would cause confusion in human relationships, so it must be unreasonable. But Jesus said their thinking was wrong, because in heaven people do not marry. Jesus also said, “You do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God.” If God is powerful, why can He not raise the dead?

Although the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, they believed in the books of Moses. So Jesus quoted from Exodus: “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At the time of Moses, these people had already died. But God said “I am” (present tense). So God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. This shows they are alive (resurrected). Even the Sadducees could not argue with this.

2. verses 34–40, Challenge from the Pharisee 

The Pharisees focused on keeping the law of Moses and traditions to live a godly life. But they cared too much about rules and not about inner change, so Jesus often criticized them. In verses 34–40, a Pharisee who knew the law asked Jesus which commandment is the greatest. This was a difficult question, because choosing one might make others seem less important.

But Jesus answered by summarizing the law into two main points: love God and love people. The center of God’s command is love. These two commandments cover the whole Bible and are the foundation of the Christian faith. True faith is shown in our relationship with God and with others.

In verses 41–46, Jesus asked the Pharisees a question. If the Christ is the son of David, why did David call Him “Lord”? This was beyond their understanding, so no one could answer. This question shows the identity and authority of Christ. Jesus is a descendant of David in the flesh, but He is also the Messiah, the Son of God, the eternal King, and the Savior of the world.

Reminders:

1. Faith is not only about rituals. It is a way of life. We show our faith by loving God fully and loving others selflessly. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” teach us how to live and relate to God and people.

2. The Pharisees and Sadducees could not see that God was among them. Their talks with Jesus stayed at the level of knowledge and debate. They did not realize that Jesus was the Christ sent by God, so it did not help their lives or bring them closer to God.

3. Today, do we study the Bible only for knowledge and discussion? Or are we willing to remember and practice these two greatest commandments in our daily life?

Brothers and sisters, we should not only remember these two greatest commandments, but also practice them in our lives. Let us love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love others as ourselves. This is the core of Christian life and our response to God’s love.