Experience or Scripture?

In Matthew 22 we see the religious leaders continuing to test Jesus. You would think they would have learned by now, but their blindness and their anger keeps them taking “shots” at Jesus. In this chapter they test Him on taxes, heaven and the identity of the Messiah. Let’s read this little discourse: 23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

There is something interesting here…besides the fact that we won’t be married in heaven. Notice that the Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the resurrection, tried to use some strange, man made circumstance to try to prove their point when they had the Scripture in front of them. They tried to elevate the experience of man above the authority of the Scripture. I see this so much as our society grapples with social issues today. The answer from the world is often to put up an emotional story or even a hypothetical situation to prove a point instead of simply following the Bible. For almost every situation we face, the Bible gives us what to do and how to live…yes, this might cause pain and conflict, but ignoring what the Bible says because it might make life difficult for others doesn’t really help the others. I encourage you to study the Bible on the issues that you are unclear about. Then follow it.