The Question of the Resurrection Life (Mark 12:18-27 *, Luke 20:27-40). Mt.'s changes are mostly in the direction of simplicity. As regards the question of the Sadducees, while Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21 forbid marriage with a dead brother's wife, Deuteronomy 25:5-10 enjoins it in certain circumstances. The answer of Jesus (Matthew 22:29 ff.) to their attempt to argue against resurrection by an imaginary complication of this kind is twofold. First, they were deficient in knowledge, or they would have recognised that their Scriptures at least implicitly taught the doctrine; secondly, they were deficient in faith the Divine power could solve all such problems. Rabbinical writings show that there was considerable difference of opinion among the Jews of Christ's day as to the scope of the Resurrection; the belief itself had become general (except for Sadducees and Samaritans) since the second century B.C., and was largely due to Persian influence. With Jesus-' argument from Exodus 3:6 cf. the Rabbinic tract Sank. 90 b, where R. Jochanan deduces the perpetual life, and so the resurrection of Aaron, from Numbers 18:28. The comparison of the risen life with angelic existence goes against the idea of reanimated bodies, and is in line with Paul's teaching (1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 5) of a spiritual body.
Matthew 22:23-33
23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.c
27 And last of all the woman died also.
28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29 Jesus answered and said unto them,Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and 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 multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.