for he is a god of the living,not of the dead, for all live unto him.
2007-12-26 16:58:00 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
does this passage only apply to believers?
2007-12-26 16:59:48 · update #1
You are referring Jesus' quote in Luke 20:37-38
"But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
In context, He was speaking to the Sadducee's who did not believe there was a resurrection. He identified their error that there is a resurrection, and there is an afterlife and that death is not the end of all things, but rather ALL live up to the day they meet God at the judgment. After that is eternal life, or the second death. All men are eternal beings. Where you spend that eternity is the issue.
Toadaly - That is a great answer.
2007-12-26 17:01:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If we look at Matt. 22 and the context, we see that Jesus is explaining that those that have died in faith (faith of the Savior yet to come) are currently in heaven (their souls). Jesus is quoting Exodus 3:6, where God spoke to Moses from a burning bush.
Matt. 22:32 (Jesus asks, have you not read what was spoken to you by God) "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."
The point is that our soul is imperishable. It goes to heaven or hell upon our death.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were in heaven with God the Father. They had faith in the Savior promised to them, as Christians have faith in the Savior that came.
Part of the problem Jesus was addressing here is the Sadducees did not believe there was life after death or a resurrection. Jesus set them straight on this. He also made it clear that the soul (for believers) is immediately with the Lord upon passing from this life. On the final day our body in the grave will be resurrected and made imperishable by the Lord and united with our soul. (See 1 Corinthians chapter 15) This is in contrast to those who think the soul sleeps until the last day.
St. Paul said in Phil 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
I hope this helped. God bless.
2007-12-27 01:48:27 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. Paul 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This passage tells us 2 things:
1) There will one day be a resurrection (which other scripture says will be of the just (unto eternal life) and the unjust (unto damnation.)
2) Those believers who have passed from this world are already alive with God.
Luke 20
27Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
28Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
30And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
31And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
32Last of all the woman died also.
33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
34And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
37Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
2007-12-27 01:18:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me it means that God is a god of death, rather Lord of all living things... we were created to live forever and have life in its fullest.
Though it can also show His disdain for those who are spiritually "dead".
Thankfully through God's amazing grace, Jesus conquered death, and hell for that matter.
A corpse can not worship God (or do anything else either). God lives in the living only. Whether it is because man is made in His image, or because a man is filled with His Holy Spirit.
In the same way that God did not create evil and darkness, He did not create death. They are bi-products of Satan, the absence of God, and human sin. If we were not given free will, we could not choose to love Him voluntarily.
God is quite alive as He always has been, and always will be. Alpha and Omega. Without God there would be no life - mortal nor eternal.
Everything and anything God says applies to everyone, believer or not.
God Bless You.
2007-12-27 01:04:26 · answer #4 · answered by John W 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
He is a God of the living.. we are alive when we accept Jesus as Lord and savior .. those who havent done so are dead spiritually. So He is God of all who live spiritually unto Him.
2007-12-27 01:05:05 · answer #5 · answered by lady_4jc 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In order to give you a more specific answer, I would need to know where you found the passage so I can read the text around it.
From what it looks like, it appears He is only speaking to those made alive in Christ. Christians.
2007-12-27 01:02:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is only one meaning for this verse (Matt 22:32; Mark 12:37; Luke 20:36). Jesus was talking about the resurrection. Let’s start with Matthew,
Matt 22:29Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'[a]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
When the resurrection occurs, there will be no dead hence God is not the God of the dead but of the living. This is clearer in Mark.
Mark 12:24Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'[d]? 27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"
Verse 25 states "When the dead rise..." Finally in Luke,
Luke 20:34Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'[c] 38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
In this passage it is clearer that the "dead rise" and "all are alive".
Answer: This passage occurs three times (Matthew, Mark and Luke). In each case Jesus is talking about the resurrection where the dead will rise and all will be alive. In this case, there is no death, so God is the God of the living.
2007-12-27 01:33:24 · answer #7 · answered by J. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The dead know nothing so how can any god if there ever was a god be a god of the dead...God is a subjective entity because God can only exist in the minds of people and therefore can only have credence in the living because it is the living who ultimately believe in the existence....the dead know nothing and the dead believe nothing because the dead are nothing.
2007-12-27 01:05:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is an example of why I find the Bible inadequate - and lacking of knowledge and wisdom.
That it is 'preaching' - not giving you a choice at all.
It is only reinforcing the fear of death, etc.
I don't believe in resurrection - because no one and nothing can be brought back from the dead. When you see a dead body, you will know that...
But rather it is process that everyone and everything goes through...
2007-12-27 01:11:58 · answer #9 · answered by TruthBox 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
this is in reference to
Matthew 23:32
Oh please just for once read the scripture in its context and you will easily see it is reference to the resurrected believers
as the Saducees believed there was no resurrection : See Matt22:29
he was speaking directly to them in this passage to correct thier error
2007-12-27 01:10:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋