“What Happens After We Die?”
Luke 20:27-40
The question of “What happens after we die?” is a question that relevant to everyone. The question becomes intensely significant when faced with the death of a loved one or when we are facing the stark reality of our own death.
“There are basically two groups of people in the world. The first group is made up of those who believe this life is all there is. We live, we die, and that is all there is. Most major religions have some notion of life beyond the grave. Jesus taught that there will be a time of judgment and reward followed by eternal life commensurate with the results of that judgment.” [Bruce Goettsche. “What Happens After We Die? – Lk 20:27-40. www.unionchurch.com/archive/031311.htm]
As Jesus taught in the Temple one group after another came and took Him to task. First, there are those who came to question His authority to cleanse the Temple and to continue to teach daily there (vv. 1-2). He defeated them with a counter question, “First, you tell me, Was the baptism of John from God or from men.” (v. 4). When they refused to answer this question, neither did He answer them. Next came those with a deadly political question, “Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not” (v. 22). He defeated them by asking for a coin and after receiving a denarius bearing the image of Caesar said, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what belongs to God” (v. 25). Now in verse twenty-seven we are introduced to one last group, the Sadducee's, who decided they would have to show the others how to put Jesus in his place.
First, The Question. (20:27-33)
“Then some of the Sadducee's, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him (28) saying: ‘Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother should take a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. (29) Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. (30) And the second took here as wife, and he died child-less. (31) Then the third took here, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. (32) Last of all the woman died also. (33) Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”
Luke helps us to understand who the Sadducee's were by saying, they are those “who deny that there is a resurrection” (v. 27). Furthermore Acts 23:8, states that the Sadducee's did not believe in angels or spirits either. In fact they were mainly a political group, although they had control of the High priestly office. They seemed to feel that only the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch) were binding on the Jewish people. At the heart of the trick question was the custom of “Levirate marriage,” according to this custom if a man’s married brother died without leaving an heir, he must marry the widow for the explicit purpose of producing a son to carry on the family name (Deut. 25:5-6).
But as we look at the question they brought to Jesus we should note that in their question, of one bride and seven brothers, there was no real search for the truth. The Sadducee's not only did not expect an answer, they did want one. They were asking Jesus about something in which they did not believe. In fact, they hope to stump Jesus and thus demonstrate how foolish the whole idea of resurrection from the dead is, that it is indeed unbiblical and impractical.
The problem presented in the form of a question is of course at its core a sham, however, the issue that is raises is not; “Is there an afterlife? Will people really be raised from the dead?” Is the idea of life after death just Christian escapism? Why don’t Christians just face the truth that this life is all there is? Have you ever heard those kinds of objections raised by the skeptics of our age? The Sadducee's were just first century skeptics who did not believe in life after death.
They said that life ended at death. There is little doubt that the Sadducee's just considered themselves hard core realists, who had to combat this nonsense about the resurrection. But perhaps at least part of the answer is that the Sadducee's were so comfortable in their day-to-day lives that they were not concerned with the after life. This is true of most Americans today as well; we are so comfortable in our day-to-day lives that we tend to forget that our ultimate hope is in Heaven. When is the last time you even thought about where you are going to spend eternity?
The truth is that everyone is one day closer to eternity than we were yesterday. Someone has said that “Death is a subject that people spend a lifetime trying not to think about.” But death is an inevitable experience that unless the Lord comes, we will all one day face. President Eisenhower once said, “I am interested in eter-nity. I am going to spend the rest of my life there.”
Secondly, The Answer. (20:34-36)
Jesus begins His answer to the question in verse thirty-four, “Jesus answered and said to them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. (35) But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; (36) nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection”
According to Matthew’s account Jesus rebuked the Sadducee's saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29 -ESV) Jesus first said they did not understand the true nature of the afterlife. So Jesus began His answer by drawing an important distinction between the present age and the age to come. Look back with me and underline two phrases. Jesus divides the discussion into two time periods; “this age” (v. 34) – the present age and “that age” (v. 35) – the age to come and described how very different they were from one another. The Kingdom of God or the after-life; described as “that age” will be totally different from the way things are in “this age.”
Since the Sadducee's had asked about the relationships in the next life based on their understanding of relationships in this life, Jesus explained the difference. Jesus shares with his listeners great truths about life eternal.
• Truth About Entrance – Not everybody is going. (v. 35 a)
The second great truth that Jesus shares about the kingdom of heaven is that not every-one is going there. Verse thirty-five introduces another key point, when He says, “But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead…. ” Here it is more implied than stated but the principle is - Not everyone will be resurrected into everlasting life in Heaven. The souls of unbelievers are now remaining in Hades awaiting the Great White Throne Judgement of Revelation 19, and those who are God’s people are now presently with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6, 8).
If some are to be counted worthy then it follows that some will not. This verse emphasizes that Jesus is talking to those who are saved, not all those who die. Notice that verse says, the “resurrection from the dead” not “resurrection of the dead.” That may not seem such a signi-ficant difference but how great a distinction those two prepositions make. Everyone will experience the “resurrection of the dead” man was created an eternal being and will spend eternity somewhere. “Resurrection from among the dead” refers only to those who are raised to eternal life.
• Truth About Marriage. (v. 35b)
Jesus tells that in life in the Kingdom of Heaven, relationships will operate on a different plane than in this life. First, there is no marriage in “that age.” “neither marry nor are given in marriage” (v. 35b) The point was that life in the Eternal State is more than just an extension of what we have here. The Jews of Jesus days thought that the Kingdom of Heaven was only an continuation of the good things in this life. He did not say that we would not know our present wife or husband in the age to come, but rather that the relationship would be different.
“We are not told enough about life in the world beyond to answer in great detail, but we can understand a few principles.
· Family relationships will still be known in life in the world beyond. The rich man Jesus described in the afterlife was aware of his family relationships (Luke 16:27-28).
· The glory of heaven will be a relationship and connection with God that surpasses anything else, including present family relationships (Revelation 21:22-23) [David Guzik. Enduring Word Commentary - “Luke 20” https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-20/]
• Truth About Immortality. (v. 36a)
Jesus identifies the quality of life when He says “neither can they die anymore,” it is eternal life. Notice that Jesus does not say, “they will not die” He says, “they cannot die.”
Here Jesus uses angels to make His point about immortality saying verse thirty six, “…nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” One point worthy of taking notice of Jesus told the Sadducee's that angels were real. Jesus’ use of angels contains a double thrust since the Sadducee's denied their existence.
Jesus says that “they are equal to angels” (v. 36b) and unfortunately because some translations render this phrase “they shall be like angels” (NIV, NLT), there is some confusion. At least one study states that 15% of Christians thought that angels were “deceased humans.” So let me clarify something before we go on, if you are not now an angel you will never become one. Angels are created beings not humans who have died and are now being rewarded. Angels are not human beings who like Clarence in the old movie classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” who are “trying to earn their wings.” So how are we like angels? The main idea is that we will be like angels in the fact that marriage is not a part of their life.
The redeemed will be “like” the angels in Heaven, seeing and serving and praising God. Like the angels in that we are equally deathless, equally glorified and equally eternal.
As far as our bodies go, they too will be resurrected in glorified form. Our bodies to use the words of Paul, “will be raised imperishable” (1 Cor. 15:42). You, not just your soul, will be resurrected. That means that your individuality will be preserved in Eternity. You will recognize your loved ones and they will recognize you. Those things that made us unique as individuals in this life will be retained. And when we see our loved ones again their bodies will be in all their glorious potential, but still their bodies. Their personalities will be at their fullest, their wit, their charm, their tenacity, their love still the same only enhanced. “Our Lord’s resurrected body was the same as before His death and yet different! His friends recognized Him and even felt Him; He could eat food and yet He could also walk through (closed) doors, change His appearance, and vanish away.” [Warren Weirsbe. “Be Courageous.”. Luke 14-24. (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1989) p. 89]
• The Truth About Paternity. (v. 36b)
“…and are sons of God, being sons of the
resurrection.” God will rise us up to be His children.
? We are His children by Rebirth.
In his answering Nicodemus’s question Jesus said in John 3, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) So what do we need to do? Our first birth gave us physical life; the new birth gives us spiritual life and membership in God’s family (John 1:13). The only way one can come to God and experience what it means to be “born again” is through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. First, we must admit our sin—then we must ask forgiveness for that sin and repent, place our faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary.
To receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord means more than accepting that Jesus is a fact of history, or great teacher, or extreme moral example. It means believing that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. It means that one turns from sin and with his or her whole heart trusts in Christ as personal Savior and Lord. God makes that one a new person; see 2 Corinthians 5:17. The Bible says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
? We are His children by adoption.
(Galatians 4:5) “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
“There was no process for adoption in the ancient Jewish culture. If a man died, his brother automatically became the head of his household, so there was no need for a legal adoption process. The word adoption, during the time and context in which St. Paul spoke, referred to the Roman concept of adoption.
In ancient Rome, adoption had a powerful meaning. When a child was born biologically, the parents had the option of disowning the child for a variety of reasons. The relationship, there-fore, was not necessarily desired by the parent, nor permanent.
Not so, however, if a child was adopted. In Rome, adopting a child meant:
1. That child was freely chosen by the parents, desired by the parents.
2. That child would be a permanent part of the family; parents couldn’t disown a child they adopted.
An adopted child received a new identity. Any prior commitments, responsibilities and
debts were erased.
New rights and responsibilities were taken on…. Being adopted made someone an heir to their father, joint-sharers in all his possessions and fully united to him.”[Ellen Mady. “How the Roman practice of adoption sheds light on what St. Paul was talking about” Aleteia - Sep 12, 2017 https://aleteia.org/2017/09/12/how-the-roman-practice-of-adoption-sheds-light-on-what-st-paul-was-talk]
Third, The Proof. (20:37-38)
To prove that the resurrection from the dead was a biblical idea, there were any number of clear Old Testament texts that Jesus could have named which spoke of the resurrection. As we have already notice in Matthew’s account Jesus rebuked the Sadducee's saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29 -ESV) Jesus first dealt with that they did not understand the true nature of the afterlife. Now he deals with the second part they did not understand the power of God. God has the power to raise the dead and many Old Testament figures attest to that!
The prophet Isaiah said, “Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs,” (Isaiah 26:19)
The prophet Daniel said, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
Perhaps some of better remembered lines concerning the resurrection were uttered by Job where he stated; “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; (26) And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, (27) Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27)
And since the Sadducee's only accepted as binding the first five books of the Old Testament Jesus appealed to the words of Moses the author of the first five books of the Old Testament. Appealing to the book of Exodus, Jesus said, “But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord the ‘God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,’ (38) For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” (Exodus 3:6).
Jesus reasons that when God stated in the present tense “I AM the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6) it makes no sense if they are not presently alive. God say He is “the I AM” not “the I Was!”
It is the living God who is greater than death who is the One who has assured us that mankind, will all be raised from the grave, some to their rewards and others to judgment.
The author of Hebrews tells that the Old Testament patriarchs knew the promises of God transcended this earthly existence and were eternal. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland... (17) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,"(19) concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” (Heb. 11:13-14, 17-19)
Fourth, The Result. (20:39-40)
In verses thirty-nine and forty of our text we read the conclusion of the matter. “Then some of the scribes answered and said, ‘Teacher, You have spoken well.’ (40) But after that they dared not question Him anymore.”
The hate that the Scribes and the Pharisees felt for Jesus was temporarily superseded by their despising of the Sadducee's and they tell Jesus He did a good job answering the question. In fact they were astonished at what Jesus had to say about Eternal Life. Only one person can speak with authority about life after death, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who has ever died, went into the after life and returned to this life. No matter what some may say today about their “near death experiences,” Jesus is the only one I would trust.
Conclusion
There are many areas in life in which man can afford to make mistakes. In the area of finances, we can make mistakes with the hope that we learn from our error and do better next time. Athletes can afford to make mistakes during a contest, because of the possibility that in the next game they will get it all right. But in the question of eternity no one can afford to be wrong. In this arena there is no second chance. The mistake the Sadducee's were making was that they were gambling with their souls as the stake! And the Lord knew then and according to Mark 12:27 he told them so saying, “… you have made a serious error.” (NLT) How about you?
“Archibald Hunter relates the story of an old country doctor who went to visit in the home of a man who was dying. The man asked the doctor to describe to him what heaven would be like– since he would be going there soon. As the doctor thought about his reply, there was a scratching at the bedroom door. The doctor said, “Do you hear that? It’s my dog. I left her downstairs when I came in. She has come up here because she heard my voice. She has no idea what’s on the other side of the door–but she knows I’m here and that’s all that matters to her. I reckon it’s the same for you. We don’t know everything about what’s on the other side of death’s door–but you can be sure that your Savior is there–and that’s all you really need to know.” [As quoted by David Dykes. “One Bride for Seven Brothers” Luke 20:27-47 https://www.gabc.org/wp-content/uploads/s040603.pdf ]
“What Happens After We Die!”
Luke 20:27-40
First, The Question. (20:27-33)
“Levirate marriage” - (Deut. 25:5-6).
Secondly, The Answer. (20:34-36)
Jesus divides the discussion into two time periods; “this age” (v. 34) – the present age and “that age” (v. 35) – the age to come.
Great Truths About Life Eternal.
• Truth About Entrance. – Not everybody is going. (v. 35a) “Those counted worthy”
• Truth About Marriage. (v.35b)
• Truth About Immortality. (v.36a)
Equal to angels
? Made for the glory of God
? Devote their worship of God
? Never sin
? Never get married
? Immortal
• Truth About Paternity. (v. 36b)
God will rise us up to be his children.
We are His children by rebirth (John 3:3)
We are His children by adoption (Galatians 4:5)
Third, The Proof. (20:37-38)
(Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2, Job 19:25-27, Ex. 3:6, Heb. 11:13-14, 17-19)
Fourth, The Result. (20:39-40)
“What Happens After We Die!”
Luke 20:27-40
First, The _________. (20:27-33)
“Levirate marriage” - (Deut. 25:5-6).
Secondly, The _________. (20:34-36)
Jesus divides the discussion into two time periods; “____ age” (v. 34) – the present age and “_____ age” (v. 35) – the age to come.
Great Truths About Life Eternal.
• Truth About ____________. – Not everybody is going. (v. 35a) “Those counted ________”
• Truth About _____________. (v.35b)
• Truth About _______________. (v.36a)
Equal to angels
? Made for the _________ of God.
? Devote their _________ of God.
? Never ______.
? Never get ____________.
? ______________.
• Truth About ____________. (v. 36b)
God will rise us up to be his children.
We are His children by __________. (John 3:3)
We are His children by __________. (Gal. 4:5)
Third, The __________. (20:37-38)
(Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2, Job 19:25-27, Ex. 3:6, Heb. 11:13-14, 17-19)
Fourth, The __________. (20:39-40)
