How does Matthew 22:32 connect with Exodus 3:6 regarding God's eternal nature? Connecting Two Mountains: Sinai and Jerusalem • Exodus 3:6 unfolds on Mount Horeb. God reveals Himself to Moses: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” • Matthew 22:32 is spoken in the temple courts of Jerusalem. Jesus cites the very same words and adds His interpretive comment: “ ‘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.” • One scene introduces Israel to the covenant-keeping LORD; the other scene shows the incarnate Son affirming that same LORD’s unchanging nature. The Weight of “I Am,” Not “I Was” • God speaks in the present tense both at the burning bush and centuries later through Jesus. • Had the patriarchs ceased to exist, God would have said, “I was their God.” The enduring “I am” signals: – God’s own timeless existence (Psalm 90:2; Revelation 1:8) – The ongoing life of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in God’s presence (Luke 20:37-38) • Jesus’ argument hinges on verb tense, underscoring that every word of Scripture is precise and trustworthy. Eternal Nature Displayed in Covenant Fidelity • By naming the patriarchs, God ties His identity to promises He made to them (Genesis 17:7; 26:3-5; 28:13-15). • An eternal God must still be in relationship with living covenant partners; otherwise, the covenant would terminate. • Hebrews 11:13-16 notes that these patriarchs “were still living by faith when they died,” anticipating fulfillment beyond the grave. Resurrection Implicit in the Name of God • Jesus’ use of Exodus 3:6 responds to Sadducees who denied resurrection (Matthew 22:23). • If God presently relates to the patriarchs, their full redemption—including bodily resurrection—must yet unfold. • Thus, the burning bush text quietly embeds hope of future resurrection, unveiled explicitly by Christ (John 5:28-29). Unchanging Character, Undiminished Power • Malachi 3:6: “For I, the LORD, do not change.” The God who spoke to Moses remains the same Lord Jesus proclaims. • Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” The Son shares the Father’s eternal nature. • Every promise stands because the Promiser cannot age, falter, or die. Living God, Living People—Implications for Us • Believers today worship the very “I am,” not a distant memory. • Union with Christ means participation in that same never-ending life (John 11:25-26). • Assurance of our own resurrection rests on the immutable character Jesus highlighted: God “is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Summary Matthew 22:32 reaches back to Exodus 3:6 to affirm that the LORD’s present-tense self-designation reveals His eternal, unchanging nature. Because He lives outside time and death, His covenant partners live, too, guaranteeing the future resurrection and demonstrating that every divine promise is as enduring as the One who speaks it. |
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