I’m always amazed at what is tucked away in the Bible for safekeeping. Little insights that have a gigantic impact. One of those gems is hidden in Matthew 22:23-33. Thanks to Pastor John Piper for pointing this out in a recent tweet.
In this section of Matthew, various groups are testing Jesus with tricky questions designed to force Him into a corner. The Sadducees proposed a detailed question about marriage in heaven. The question itself was designed to prove their belief that there is no resurrection.
“Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29–32, CSB)
First of all, Jesus’ answer is masterful. But that’s not the nugget. The nugget is “haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God.” Think about it. Jesus was quoting Exodus 3:6 when God spoke to Moses at the burning bush. As John Piper succinctly puts it, “First God spoke to Moses at the burning bush. Then Moses wrote it down. Centuries later the Sadducees read what he wrote.” Do you see it? Let me help, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God.
God spoke to someone at some long ago time, and they wrote it down. But Jesus said that it is also God speaking directly to you! Right here, right now. We know that. We often say without much thought that the Bible is the Word of God. But we can still get into a mindset that we are gleaning from someone else’s revelation. There is a bit of truth to that. However, there is much more to it than that. Yes, God spoke to Moses, but He was also speaking to the Sadducees and is speaking to you and me right now.
As we read the Bible, we directly encounter God. It is God speaking to us. Even the parts that we don’t like or that challenge our preconceptions. God didn’t only speak long ago in a land far away. We aren’t just hearing echoes or seeing shadows. He is speaking to you right now through His Word. “If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.” (Mark 4:23, CSB)
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