He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
He is not the God of the dead, but [the God] of the living, х ho (G3588) Theos (G2316) nekroon (G3498) alla (G243) Theos (G2316) zoontoon (G2198)] - not 'the God of dead but [the God] of living persons.' The word in brackets is almost certainly an addition to the genuine text, and critical editors exclude it. "For all live unto Him" х autoo (G846)] Luke 20:38 - `in His view,' or 'in His estimation.' This last statement-found only in Luke-though adding nothing to the argument, is an important additional illustration. It is true, indeed, that to God no human being is dead or ever will be, but all mankind sustain an abiding conscious relation to Him; but the "all" here mean "those who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world." These sustain a gracious covenant-relation to God which cannot be dissolved. (Compare Romans 6:10-11.) In this sense our Lord affirms that for Moses to call the Lord the "GOD" of His patriarchal servants, if at that moment they had no existence, would be unworthy of Him.
He "would be ashamed to be called their God, if He had not prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:16). It was concluded by some of the early Fathers, from our Lord's resting His proof of the Resurrection on such a passage as this, instead of quoting some much clearer testimonies of the Old Testament, that the Sadducees, to whom this was addressed, acknowledged the authority of no part of the Old Testament but the Pentateuch; and this opinion has held its ground even until now. But as there is no ground for it in the New Testament, so Josephus is silent upon it; merely saying that they rejected the Pharisaic traditions. It was because the Pentateuch was regarded by all classes as the fundamental source of the Hebrew Religion, and all the succeeding books of the Old Testament but as developments of it, that our Lord would show that even there the doctrine of the Resurrection was taught. And all the rather does He select this passage, as being not a bare annunciation of the doctrine in question, but as expressive of that glorious truth out of which the Resurrection springs. "And when the multitude heard this (says Matthew 22:33), they were astonished at His doctrine." "Then (adds Luke 20:39-40) certain of the scribes answering said, Master" - `Teacher' х Didaskale (G1320)], "thou hast well said" - enjoying His victory over the Sadducees. "And after that they durst not ask Him any [question at all]" - neither party could; both being for the time utterly foiled.
"But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together" (Matthew 22:34).