How does Luke 20:34 challenge our understanding of marriage in eternity? Setting the Scene Luke 20 records a confrontation between Jesus and the Sadducees, who denied bodily resurrection. They pose a hypothetical about a woman who, by levirate custom, marries seven brothers in succession. Jesus responds by contrasting “this age” with “that age” (the resurrection). His opening statement is key: “Jesus answered, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.’” (Luke 20:34) What Jesus Declares About Marriage •Marriage is characteristic of “this age,” the present fallen world. •By implication, it does not define life in the coming resurrection age (cf. Luke 20:35–36). •This reshapes any assumption that the social structures we know now remain unchanged in eternity. Why Marriage Exists in “This Age” •Procreation and filling the earth (Genesis 1:28). •Companionship that remedies human loneliness (Genesis 2:18). •A living parable of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31–32). •Protection against immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2). All of these purposes relate to a world where people die, sin, and need physical multiplication. None of them are necessary once death is abolished and perfect communion with God is realized. What Replaces Earthly Marriage in Eternity •Believers will be “like the angels” in that they are deathless and no longer propagate the race (Luke 20:36; Matthew 22:30). •The ultimate marriage is the union of Christ and His bride, the church (Revelation 19:7-9). Our deepest relational fulfillment is found there. •Every saint will enjoy unhindered fellowship with God and with one another, without the exclusivity or covenantal boundaries of earthly marriage. How Luke 20:34 Challenges Us Today •It loosens our grip on temporal institutions, reminding us they are preparatory, not permanent. •It recalibrates expectations—if a believer is single or widowed, eternity offers full relational satisfaction in Christ. •It calls married couples to view their union as a stewardship pointing others to the gospel, not an end in itself. •It invites worship: the best joys of marriage are a foretaste of a greater, everlasting communion with the Lord. Living in Light of the Resurrection •Invest in marriages now, knowing they mirror a greater reality. •Honor singleness as an anticipatory sign of the coming age (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). •Set hope not on temporal ties but on the eternal family of God (Mark 3:35). •Cultivate longing for the wedding supper of the Lamb, where earthly symbols give way to ultimate fulfillment in Christ. |
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