Luke 20:37 - But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Exodus 3:6
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What does "Luke 20:37" mean?
This verse, Luke 20:37, is part of a larger argument Jesus is making with the Sadducees, a Jewish sect that did not believe in the resurrection. The Sadducees had posed a hypothetical question about a woman who married seven brothers in succession (due to the levirate law). They asked whose wife she would be in the resurrection.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning in context:
"But that the dead are raised...": This is the central point Jesus is making. He is arguing in favor of the resurrection.
"...even Moses showed at the bush...": Jesus is pointing to the story of Moses and the burning bush in the book of Exodus. He is using Moses, a figure deeply respected by all Jews, including the Sadducees, as a witness to the resurrection.
"...when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Exodus 3:6": This is the key part of the argument. In Exodus 3:6, God identifies himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jesus' argument goes like this:
1. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Luke 20:38).
2. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for centuries when God spoke to Moses.
3. Therefore, if God still identifies himself as their God, they must, in some sense, still be alive to God. This implies a future resurrection, where they will be fully alive.
Key interpretations:
The Persistence of Relationship: Jesus isn't just saying that God knew Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is emphasizing the ongoing relationship God has with them, even after their physical deaths. This relationship implies that they are still in God's care and that God's promise to them is still valid.
God's Power over Death: The fact that God remains their God even after their deaths suggests God's power to overcome death and bring them to a future resurrection. It implies that death is not the end of their existence, but rather a transition.
Emphasis on God's Faithfulness: God is faithful to his promises. He made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and those promises haven't been nullified by their deaths. The resurrection is the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant relationship with them.
In Summary:
Jesus uses a subtle but powerful argument based on scripture (Exodus 3:6) to convince the Sadducees that the doctrine of the resurrection is, in fact, supported by their own scriptures. He argues that God's enduring relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob implies that they are still alive to God and that the resurrection is a real possibility. This argument emphasizes God's faithfulness, power over death, and the continuing relationship God has with those who believe in Him, even after death.
Luke 20:37 - But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Exodus 3:6
What does "Luke 20:37" mean?
This verse, Luke 20:37, is part of a larger argument Jesus is making with the Sadducees, a Jewish sect that did not believe in the resurrection. The Sadducees had posed a hypothetical question about a woman who married seven brothers in succession (due to the levirate law). They asked whose wife she would be in the resurrection.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning in context:
"But that the dead are raised...": This is the central point Jesus is making. He is arguing in favor of the resurrection.
"...even Moses showed at the bush...": Jesus is pointing to the story of Moses and the burning bush in the book of Exodus. He is using Moses, a figure deeply respected by all Jews, including the Sadducees, as a witness to the resurrection.
"...when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Exodus 3:6": This is the key part of the argument. In Exodus 3:6, God identifies himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jesus' argument goes like this:
1. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Luke 20:38).
2. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for centuries when God spoke to Moses.
3. Therefore, if God still identifies himself as their God, they must, in some sense, still be alive to God. This implies a future resurrection, where they will be fully alive.
Key interpretations:
The Persistence of Relationship: Jesus isn't just saying that God knew Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is emphasizing the ongoing relationship God has with them, even after their physical deaths. This relationship implies that they are still in God's care and that God's promise to them is still valid.
God's Power over Death: The fact that God remains their God even after their deaths suggests God's power to overcome death and bring them to a future resurrection. It implies that death is not the end of their existence, but rather a transition.
Emphasis on God's Faithfulness: God is faithful to his promises. He made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and those promises haven't been nullified by their deaths. The resurrection is the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant relationship with them.
In Summary:
Jesus uses a subtle but powerful argument based on scripture (Exodus 3:6) to convince the Sadducees that the doctrine of the resurrection is, in fact, supported by their own scriptures. He argues that God's enduring relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob implies that they are still alive to God and that the resurrection is a real possibility. This argument emphasizes God's faithfulness, power over death, and the continuing relationship God has with those who believe in Him, even after death.