ISB ~ Luke 20 v27 - 40

The Sadducees challenge Jesus about his teaching on the afterlife. They are convinced that the Mosaic Law says nothing about a future resurrection (20:27) and so present him with a dilemma:If Moses permits a woman to remarry every time her husband dies (Deut 25:5), will this not bring confusion into the next life? How will she determine who is her legitimate spouse if all of them are raised? Jesus deals with his objectors on their own terms: first, by denying that marriage exists in the next life and, second, by deliberately citing the Mosaic Law against them.

• The burning bush episode shows that Yahweh identified himself with the patriarchs long after th

eir death (Ex 3:6). If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still with God, then life must endure beyond death and a future resurrection is implied in the Pentateuch. See topical essay: Who Are the Sadducees? at Mk 12.