Love And Marriage

This is a complex question. What about this teaching that brothers must marry their brother’s widow? This is the concept of the kinsman redeemer. “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.” Deuteronomy 25:5, 6, NIV. We see this being lived out in the case of Ruth. We also know from the book of Ruth that a brother or close relative did not have to obey this command. Boaz was not the closest kinsman redeemer. Boaz redeemed Ruth because the closest kinsman redeemer refused to carry out his obligations to his relative. As a matter of fact, the law of the kinsman redeemer was rarely fulfilled. “However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,” his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.” That man’s line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandalled.” Deuteronomy 25:7-10, NIV.

The Sadducees must have spent some mental energy to come up with this one. In reality, they are making fun of the doctrine of the resurrection. The Sadducees are using a tactic from logic known as arguing from absurdity. Basically, the tactic is to take whatever proposition one is arguing against and follow it even to an extreme situation to see if the proposition still makes sense. Jesus came from heaven and being God he knows how things will be at the resurrection of the dead. Jesus answers from his knowledge.

His answer goes straight to the heart with 4 essential truths about the afterlife:

1. There is a difference between this age and the next (vs. 34). We cannot view eternity through the lens of our limited experience. The Sadducees assume that people will marry in heaven because they do so on earth. Not so, according to Jesus. Their premise is wrong. How do we feel about no marriage in heaven? Is this good or upsetting? Had a friend Edna who wanted to be with her husband in heaven and this teaching of Jesus upset her. What is the purpose of marriage? ““For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31, 32, NIV. Marital relations we have on earth are to be signposts of the relationship between Christ and his church. Our marital relationship on this earth is to teach us and point us to our relationship with God. Once we reach heaven the need for signposts is unnecessary because the real thing is already here. Our marriage on this old earth is a shadow of the true marriage that will exist between Christ and his church in the new heaven and earth. Our marriage here can never replace the joy and pleasure that we will experience in heaven. Our marriage here only prepares us for our marriage there. Our union with Christ will be so completely satisfying and fill our every need and desire that even the best of marriages on this earth can never fulfill those desires and meet those expectations that will be fulfilled over there. Have a great marriage on earth, that should not depress us, but excite us! If our marriage is great now how much greater will it be in heaven along with the other relationships we will have there (like with our children- vs. 36). Greater things are yet to come. If struggling in a marriage, think about the marriage that we will have in heaven with Christ. God is going to replace what we understand of marriage with something far greater than any of us can comprehend. But will my spouse be with me in that mansion? Maybe but no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived all that God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)

2. There will be a resurrection (vs. 35). The dead will be raised whether or not the Sadducees believe in it. Someday we will all stand before the Creator. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10, NIV. Christ spoke much of the resurrection. Just in Luke we find that believers have their names written in heaven (Luke 10:20). They should not fear those who kill the body (12:4), for Christians will be raised from the dead to participate in the kingdom of God (13:29) and to enjoy their heavenly treasure (Luke 12:33- treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted).