Jesus Answers the Sadducees

²³ On that day some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection [of the dead], came to Him and asked Him a question,^{(A) 24} saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, leaving no children, his brother as next of kin shall ^[a]marry his widow, and raise children for his brother.’^{(B) 25} Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The second also [died childless], and the third, down to the seventh. ²⁷ Last of all, the woman died. ²⁸ So in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”

²⁹ But Jesus replied to them, “You are all wrong because you know neither the Scriptures [which teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [for He is able to raise the dead]. ³⁰ For in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven [who do not marry nor produce children]. ³¹ But as to the resurrection of the dead—have you not read [in the Scripture] what God said to you: ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”^{(C) 33} When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

¹⁸ Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him, and began questioning Him, saying,^{(A) 19} “Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law] that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but leaves no child, his brother is to ^[a]marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.^{(B) 20} There were seven brothers; the first [one] took a wife, and died leaving no children. ²¹ The second brother married her, and died leaving no children; and the third likewise; ²² and so all seven [married her and died, and] left no children. Last of all the woman died also. ²³ In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven [brothers] were married to her.” ²⁴ Jesus said to them, “Is this not why you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures [that teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [who is able to raise the dead]? ²⁵ For when they rise from the dead, they do not marry nor are they given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ²⁶ But concerning the raising of the dead, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?^{(C) 27} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken and you are deceiving yourselves!”