What is the meaning of Matthew 22:31? But concerning the resurrection of the dead Jesus turns the discussion to the core issue—life after death. • He is responding to the Sadducees, who denied any bodily resurrection (Acts 23:8). • By beginning with “But,” He contrasts their hypothetical puzzle with real, revealed truth. • “The resurrection of the dead” is not a vague hope; it is a promised, literal event (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22). • Scripture consistently presents resurrection as God’s definitive victory over sin and death (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:12-13). • Jesus bases His authority on written revelation, not speculation, underscoring that God’s Word is the final arbiter (Mark 12:24-25). have you not read With this simple question, the Lord appeals to Scripture’s clarity and sufficiency. • He assumes His hearers have access to—and responsibility to know—the text (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). • The phrase gently rebukes spiritual leaders for ignoring plain teaching they claim to uphold (Matthew 12:3; 19:4). • Reading is more than scanning; it is listening with faith and obedience (Nehemiah 8:8; James 1:22-25). • God’s Word is written so ordinary people can grasp essential truth about life, death, and eternity (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). what God said to you Jesus personalizes the ancient words of Exodus 3:6, spoken centuries earlier to Moses. • Scripture is living and timely; when God spoke then, He also spoke “to you” now (Hebrews 4:12; Romans 15:4). • The Lord quotes, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Matthew 22:32), proving the patriarchs still live before Him, therefore resurrection is certain. • If God identifies Himself with the living, His covenant faithfulness guarantees He will raise His people (Exodus 3:15-16; Luke 20:37-38). • Jesus’ use of Scripture models how to draw doctrine directly from the text, trusting every verb tense and detail (Galatians 3:16). summary Jesus anchors the hope of bodily resurrection in the unchanging, authoritative Word of God. By challenging, “have you not read,” He invites every listener to discover life-giving truth personally. God’s covenant name binds Him to His people beyond the grave, assuring that those who belong to Him will rise, just as surely as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob live before Him today. |
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