"But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I
am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
- Matthew 22:31-33
Matthew describes a season where three political factions came to him - each with their own perspective. These were the nationalistic Pharisees, the pro-Roman Herodians and the Sadducees, who did not hold to the resurrection from the dead. While Jesus answers their questions, He remains on-message and that message remains: Give your life to God.
That God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (who are dead) does not necessarily prove that they are alive in a resurrected state. The Sadducees are trying to find out if Jesus holds to that idea. But Jesus' answer is from the Torah, namely the Pentateuch to which the Sadducees do hold. The quote "I
am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" refers to two verses in Exodus 3 - verses 6 and 15.
Exodus 3 is a recounting of the encounter Moses has with God at the burning bush that was not consumed. Sandwiched in between the two verses stating that God is the God of the Patriarchs is the commission God gave to Moses - to set His people free. It is a microcosmic parallel of Jesus' mission for all mankind. Instead of Moses, the freedom fighter is Jesus. Instead of Egypt, the place of bondage is sin and death - the human, mortal condition. Instead of Pharaoh the tyrant is the prince of darkness. Instead of the land which is to become Israel, the promised land is Jesus' kingdom.
Indeed, Jesus is announcing in one reference that He is the second Moses of whom God Himself prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:18. And this Second Moses is the one who is the Life for all who believe Him. And He challenges all to give their lives to Him in not only His answer to the Sadducees but also the Pharisees and Herodians (verse 21). Truly He is the God of life and the living!
