Sunday 07 November 2010

Background

In today's passage the Sadducees - a priestly group who deniedthe existence of an afterlife and the coming of the Messiah - aretrying to trip Jesus up. Their ridicule is based upon what is knownas Levirate Law, which is found in Deuteronomy 25:5. According to the law, if aman died childless his brother must marry the widow so she can havechildren to carry on the family line.

It is probable that this law was no longer in use at the time ofJesus, so in one sense it appears like a trick question. But Jesus,as usual, takes the question seriously. By using a quotation fromExodus 3:6, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, theGod of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," he argues that the Torah (thefirst five books of the OldTestament) does imply a belief in theafterlife.

In talking about the burning bush (Exodus3:1-6) Jesus is saying that all life, here and hereafter,consists of friendship with God and nothing less is worthy of thename of life. Abraham was the friend of God, and it is incrediblethat such friendship should be severed by death. Death may put anend to physical existence, but not to a relationship that is bynature, eternal.

To Ponder

What does 'friendship' with God mean to you?

Is an eternal relationship with God important toyou? Why?