Homilies on Luke

Homily 39. Luke 20.21-40

HOMILY 39 Luke 20.2I-40 Concerning the question ofthe Sadducees, which they proposed to the Lord, about the woman who had seven husbands; and once again about the denarius that the Savior ordered shown to him. HERE IS A SECT of theJews called the Sadducees. They deny "the resurrection of the dead"l and think that the soul dies with the body, so that after death there is no longer any consciousness. These Sadducees put a question to the Lord. They made up a story ofa woman with seven husbands. After the first husband died, she married the second to raise up the seed of the first. When he died she also married the third, and again the fourth, and in this fashion reached the seventh. Hence, they ask which ofthe seven brothers will claim her as hiswife "in the resurrection ofthe dead." The Sadducees proposed this problem as an attack on the Savior's words, at a time when they saw him teaching the disciples about the resurrection . 2. The Savior answered them and said, "You are wrong. You know neither the Scriptures nor the Power ofGod. For, in the resurrection of the dead they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage, but will be like angels in heaven."2Those who will be like angels will thus be angels. We should also learn that angels do not contract marriage. Here, where there is death, both marriage and children are necessary. But, where there is immortality, there is need neither ofwedlock nor ofoffspring. I shall pose for myself a question that is very troublesome and not easily solved. I shall pose it from the point ofview of those 1. Lk 20.27 and 35. 2. Mt 22 .29-30. 159 160 ORlGEN people who are zealous in studying the Scriptures and "meditate on the Law of the Lord day and night. '" Where, they say, is it written in Scripture that "they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage"? I have gone over both the Old and the New Testaments in my memory and my mind. I have never recalled the phrase mentioned. If! have perhaps erred, one who knows more should teach me. I shall eagerly learn what I am ignorant of. But, as far as I can see, no such phrase will be found, either in the Old Testament or in the New. 3. The Sadducees' whole error arose from their reading the prophetic books, which they did not understand.' Among them is this passage in Isaiah: "My chosen ones will not have children who are cursed."c, And in Deuteronomy, among the blessings, "Blessed are the sons ofyourwomb. " GAnd they think that these prophecies are going to be fulfilled "in the resurrection ," since they do not understand that it is spiritual blessings that have been prophesied. For, Paul, "the vessel ofelection,'" interpreted all of these blessings, which have been placed in the Law, spiritually. He knew that they are not carnal, and says to the Ephesians, "Blessed be God, the Father ofour LordJesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing."8 Therefore , all of these blessings will exist spiritually, when we rise from the dead and gain eternal happiness. Theyalso find something similar in the Psalms, and fall into the same error. The Scripture says, "Your wife is like a fruitful vine on the walls of your house. Your sons are like shoots ofolive trees around your table," up to the point where it says, "may the Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see what is good forJerusalem. "'J SO, when Jerusalem has been rebuilt and restored to its ancient state, the holy man is going to see the good things that the Scriptures mention. 4. Those who understand 'Jerusalem" spiritually and know that Scripture says of her, "She is heavenly, she is above, she is our mother,"l11 they will see the good things of that city. We 3. Ps 1.2. 4- For a similar argument, d. Against Celsus 1.49. 5· Is 65. 2 3. 6. Dt 7.13. 7. Acts 9.15. 8. Eph l.3. 9. Ps 128.3-5. 10. Gal 4.26. HOMILY 39 161 have often spoken ofthem. And they will see what we havejust quoted from the psalm: "Your wife is like a fruitful vine on the walls ofyour house. Your sons are like shoots ofolive trees around your table. "11...