22:31-32 How are we to understand this?

This means that Abraham and Isaac and Jacob are still living, which proves the immortality of the soul. Only the body dies at physical death – the spirit and the soul of man lives forever, whether it be in heaven with Jesus, or in hell to be tormented day and night forever.

This is taught right throughout scripture (cp Job 19:25-27; Psa 16:9-11; 17:15; 49:15; 73:24-26; Isa 25:8-9; 26:19; Dan 12:2; Hos 13:14; Mt 10:28; 25:31-46; Mk 10:17, 30; Lk 23:43; Jn 3:16, 36; 5:24, 28-29; 10:27-28; 11:25; 12:25-26;14:1-3; Ro 2:7; 1Cor 15:51-58; 2Cor 5:1; Ga 6:8; Php 3:21; 1Th 4:13-18; 1Jn 2:17, 25; 3:14; 4:7-9; 5:11-12; Rev 20:4-6).

We learn from all those scriptures that the righteous live forever in heaven with Jesus (cp Psa 9:17; Pr 15:24; Dan 12;2; Mt 5:22, 29-30; 7:19; 10:28; 13:36-42, 47-50; 23:33; 25:31-46; Mk 3:29; 9:43-48; Lk 16:19-31; Jn 3:18; 5:28-29; 15:5-6; Ga 6:8; 1Jn 5:11-12; Jude 7-13, 21-23; Rev 14:9-11; 20:12-15; 21:7-8).

These scriptures all teach that the unrighteous also live forever, but in hell. This clearly refutes the doctrine of complete annihilation of unbelievers; that they do not undergo a permanent and changed state of being involving punishment and pain, as some teach (see also comments on Jn 5:28-29, 14:1-3, 1Cor 15:51-58, Php 3:20-21, 1Th 4:13-18, Rev 14:9-11, 20:11-15)

22:36-40 See comments on Jn 13:34-35.

Back to Matthew Study