18Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19"Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."
24Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."
The Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection were trying to stump Jesus with a conflict they could see happening if there was a resurrection. There are many relationships that start while we are on earth. Those relationships on earth are ended at death. But what happens to those relationships if there really is no death, that life continues after resurrection? Their understanding was if life continued after death, it would be the same kind of living.
Jesus didn't deny answering them like He did with the Pharisees. He didn't flat out tell them they were wrong. Rather, he pointed out to them that they didn't know the Scriptures nor the power of God. Therefore they are mistaken in their views of the resurrection.
First of all, life after the resurrection is through the power of God. They do not know what that power does to the lives of those resurrected. Jesus explains it is not a continuation of life as we know it. There are no marriages, but the resurrected are like angels in heaven.
Next he addresses their refusal to accept the idea of the resurrection. They claim the resurrection is not supported by anything in Scripture. But if they read the Scripture carefully they will see the resurrection indicated in God's words. Note, when God said "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob", he didn't say was, but am. These great men died many generations ago. God claims to still be their God. Therefore, they are still living, through the resurrection.
Note how Jesus talks to those He feels are mistaken. He takes the time to explain where their mistake comes from and gently guides them in the right direction. He will do the same for us. If you ever find that you were mistaken in some of your beliefs, don't worry. Jesus will not hold your mistaken beliefs against you. He will guide you too and will welcome you with open arms.
When I think about Jesus' statement that those risen from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, especially when this was in answer to what happens to the marriage relationships from previous lives, it makes me wonder about the relationships I have here now, including my marriage. A part of me is not too excited about heaven if it means I will lose my husband. But I have to remind myself that like Jesus said of the Sadducees, I do not know the power of God. I do not know what heaven will be like. No, I do not really believe I will lose my husband, but that the love we feel in our marriage relationship will be something greater in heaven, though no longer a marriage. I can only trust life after the resurrection will be greater than what I have here.