Matthew 22:30 (Answering the Sadducees 7: Counted Worthy; Like Angels)

Recall that Jesus is correcting the false notions of the Sadducees who had confronted Him in regard to their belief that there was no resurrection.  Since marriage in heaven didn’t make sense to them they mistakenly supposed there must be no resurrection, which better suited their privileged status and love for this world than supposing the resurrection would be to a spiritual state exalted so far above man’s carnal state in this age that even marriage will no longer be applicable.  How does Jesus describe those who attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead that makes it clear that not all will do so?  See Luk 20:35.  What is it that ultimately makes one worthy to attain to that age?  See Rom 3:21-24, 8:10-11, Phil 3:8-11, Col 1:27.  What are some examples of Christ’s righteousness in us that makes us worthy to attain to that age?  See Act 5:41 (cf. Mat 5:10-12), Eph 4:1-3, Phil 1:27-30, Col 1:10-13, 2Th 1:4-5, Rev 3:4.  What is it that makes one unworthy to attain to that age?  See Mat 10:37-38, 22:8.  What is the surprising quality possessed by those in Scripture who seem to be counted most worthy?  See Luk 7:1-10, 15:18-24, Joh 1:27.  How does this contrast with those whom Scripture indicates shall not be found worthy?  See Luk 18:9-14.  Why is this?  See Luk 18:14, Jam 4:6, Joh 9:39-41.

To whom does Jesus say those who are resurrected shall be like in neither marrying nor being given in marriage?  See Mat 22:30.  What does this teach us about the angels in heaven in regard to marriage?  Notice the fuller explanation of this recorded in Luke’s gospel: why in particular is there no marriage in the resurrection?  See Luk 20:35-36a.  And why does Jesus say men who have been resurrected cannot die anymore?  See Luk 20:36.  What does this teach us about angels in regard to death?  Notice that the NAS “like angels” in Luk 20:36 uses a different word from that used by Matthew and Mark and means literally “equal to angels” (see KJV); it is from the Greek word isangelos (iso + angelos) that uses the same prefix as an isosceles triangle where two sides are equal.  What is it that Jesus says shall make men equal in that age to the angels?  See Luk 20:36 and cf. Rom 8:14-17,19, Gen 6:2,4, Job 1:6, 38:4-7; see also Psa 82:6, Joh 10:33-36.  What is it that Jesus says makes men sons of God?  See again Luk 20:36 and cf. Rom 6:9.  Think too: in what ways was the resurrected body of Christ who was the first-fruits of the resurrection from among men like the spiritual bodies of angels described in Scripture?  See Gen 18:1-8,22, 19:1,15, Jos 5:13-15, Jdg 6:11-12,21-23, 13:2-20, Luk 24:13-16,31,36-43, Joh 20:19-20,26-28, 21:12-13.  Notice then the fascinating truth taught in Luk 20:36: to be resurrected from the dead is to be a son of God, and to be a son of God is to be equal in some sense to the angels so as to never die, for which reason those who are worthy to attain to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.  What do these things help us understand about how incredibly transformational the resurrection is?  Cf. Jdg 13:6, Dan 3:25,28, 8:16-17, 10:5-8, Mat 28:2-4, Luk 9:29, Rev 7:1-3, 10:1-3, 18:1,21, 20:1, 22:8-9.

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The Atonement of Christ's Blood: Understanding How the Blood of Christ Saves and Reconciles us to God

  • What is the relationship between Jesus’ sacrifice and our redemption, forgiveness and receiving an inheritance per the terms of the covenant / will that was effected by His death?
  • From what, and to what, are we saved? Is it Jesus’ death alone that saves us? What part does His resurrection have in our salvation?
  • Does the justice of God demand the satisfaction of blood before He will forgive, similar to what pagans throughout history have believed?
  • What was the purpose of the Old Testament sacrifices?
  • Does blood alone atone for sin?
  • How does Christ’s death render powerless the devil?
  • To whom was Christ’s life given as a ransom? From what are we ransomed?
  • Why did Jesus not only die, but suffer and die? If all that was necessary was His shed blood, why didn’t God sovereignly ordain a more merciful death for His own dear Son?
  • What is the relationship between a will or testament, and a covenant? What was willed to Jesus as an inheritance from His Father, and what was willed to us through the new testament in His blood?

 

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