The Gospels
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 Priceless Articles Of Faith, Marriage And Resurrection
On the true worth of things, here are some verses;
-- Click To Expand/Collapse Bible Verses -- Luke ch18:v18-30
Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Luk 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luk 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Luk 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
(KJV)
The rich man's quandary needs no explanation, other that Jesus knew that the man's heart had hung up on his riches. Jesus taught that his disciples were to keep all that they were
commanded to keep; they had considered that to be their duty. In other words, only as a
minimum requirement upon which to do good works not commanded by the law. Charity, loving ones enemies, these are among the things that earn treasure in heaven.
The rich man got what he had asked for. I had always
misunderstood v27: I assumed that if a man by all means and purposes couldn't get into heaven because of sin, God's salvation is extended over our failings. Whilst not completely untrue, that is not what Jesus is saying.
It is near impossible for a man to sell all he has and give to the poor; but a man with God's help makes it possible. Thus that man surely enters into the kingdom of God when he does so. The gospel message is true riches and one with all knowledge is still poor unless he shares his wealth. The young man's heart was that of a hoarder - He needed this example, not a commandment to be poor himself.
I also misunderstood the words of Peter: I used to think that he meant, "Hey, we're now poor, so are we okay?" - What he is saying, is "Yep, now that I think about it, you are exactly right!" - The
rewards for doing so (being charitable with the gospel) are spiritual gifts, and to hear the words of everlasting life from Jesus, (in this present time) as well as to be given the understanding of
the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, Not to mention all that they saw. - And then everlasting life after.
And now, Jesus' reply to the Sadducees on marriage in the resurrection. Probably the best worded account so far - very informative.
For your reference;
-- Click To Expand/Collapse Bible Verses -- Luke ch20:v27-40
Luk 20:27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
Luk 20:28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Luk 20:29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
Luk 20:30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
Luk 20:31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
Luk 20:32 Last of all the woman died also.
Luk 20:33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
Luk 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Luk 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luk 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
Luk 20:39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
Luk 20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
(KJV)
Whilst not a passage on marriage, but Jesus' answer to the
Sadducees on whether there is a resurrection, that the dead live in the resurrection is the basis for them to have any rights to their own seed. Whilst in the world to come Jesus taught no one would marry or be given to marry. Those married in this life are technically unmarried when a spouse dies, but the dead still have rights to children.
Strange then that the bond of marriage in death has some lasting effect, as well as being partly (or completely) cancelled. In the resurrection none die any more; so whether they remain married in the resurrection partly following on their marriage from this earthly life, or whether they are not married in the resurrection but have earthly rights, is not the emphasis made by Jesus.
Whilst alive in this world and married they have a right to children and if a man can not, then provision is made after he dies. (It is not lawful for a man to have his brothers wife if he still lives) - That way his right by marriage of monogamy in earthly life is granted him.
If in the resurrection those previously married become as unmarried all is well - when the wife dies too there will be no confusion. In death the bond of marriage is broken, but the rights continue because they were in effect during married life and were
unsatisfied. The rights were for the living, not the dead. Neither is there any confusion from the first dead but
resurrected husband still being married with his wife in the resurrection: Without only new marriages in the resurrection there is also no confusion, but a continuing bond of marriage does not change the rights due them in life on earth, or in the resurrection.
To put it cleanly the equality to the angels is in life,.. not in rights. There is space for the married couple to be considered as still in an active marriage with rights in this world though the husband be dead, but in the world to come when all these brothers are in heaven, no brother has "marriage" to the wife unless it is the first: the other brothers are then equal to the angels in "life" but not "marriage" and the right to marry is in God alone whom may not be limited.
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