Gospel Reading Luke 20 27 38 27 Some

Gospel Reading Luke 20: 27 -38

27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.

28“Teacher, ” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.

29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless

30 The second (31) and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.

32 Finally, the woman died too.

33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her? ”

34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.

35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,

36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

37 But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ’

38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. ”

7 Husbands in Heaven? ? Luke 20: 27 -38 Veteran’s Day November 10, 2013 Rev. John W. Landis, DMin

Sadducees • Priests – Decendents from David’s High Priest Zaddok – Did not believe in the Resurrection • Why ask the question? • Trying to trap and discredit Jesus

Reason for the rule • Men were to take care of the women – It was to protect and provide – Women were second class citizens, they could not own property – That is why having sons was so important in the Old Testament

Marriage in Heaven • No Need – We will all be committed to each other – No need to produce children – Being in God’s presence will provide all the pleasure we need – We will all love each other as God loves us • You will be able to be with the ones you love

The point is they missed the point! • Majored in Minors – What they were asking about didn’t matter – We do the same thing • We get worried about small matters of doctrine and miss the fact that God loves us and wants us to all be in his presence! • Pope Benedictand Patriarch refusing to pray with each other • We get hung up in what someone else is doing and forget to listen to what God is calling us to do • Jesus refocuses them

3 things that are important • One is that Life with God is different than life here – We need things like rules and covenants to help us remember to love and to help each other – We are supposed to try and make life here more like life in heaven – Life here is about sacrifice and service • Veterans • We feel good about ourselves when we do what God asks. – Love God, Love each other as ourselves » That is what heaven will be about

3 things that are important • Two we are children of God – That means that God loves us – We are to be obedient – We are taken care of

3 things that are important • Three God is God of the living and if we are God’s then we are assured of eternal life – This is the Good News of the Gospel

Our Veterans paid an incredible price so that we can be free to enjoy life here on earth • Freedom to worship – Love God • Freedom to do what God calls us to do – Love each other as ourselves

Jesus paid an incredible price so that we go to heaven.

Shouldn’t we honor those sacrifices • Remember – Tell the stories of sacrifice • Say thank you regularly • Live our lives here in service and love • Look forward in hope for the day that we can enjoy what Jesus’ sacrifice bought for us • Share the good news of that availability

Until the time we go to heaven let’s enjoy what has been bought for us by the sacrifices made. That includes our spouses.

From this day forward, let’s promise not to get hung up in the trivia but work to honor the sacrifices through our own service and love.

Love God, Love each other Let’s see how close to heaven we can come here on earth!