22:21 What does Jesus mean by what He says here?
22:21 What does Jesus mean by what He says here? Jesus means by this that believers are responsible to both earthly rulers and God. Christians must be scrupulously honest in all their dealings with civil government. They must financially support their country’s government and pay their taxes. Governments are ordained of God and Christians must honour that fact. They are to pray for those in authority – not pray against them, as so many do (cp Ro 13:1-7; 1Pe 2:13-16). This does not mean that Christians have to obey civil law if they conflict with God’s law. Our first loyalty is to God – it is more important to obey His law than man’s law (cp Ex 1:15-17; Psa 75:6-7; Dan 3:12-18; 6:6-10; Mt 2:1-5, 7-9, 12, 15-16; Ac 4:13-20; 5:28-29, 40-42; He 11:23). See also comments on Ro 13:1-2.
Jesus is simply teaching here that “in the resurrection” – the eternal state of believers after they are resurrected – marriage will be unnecessary (cp Lk 20:27-36). In the Divine order, the basic purpose for marriage is for procreation, but as those taking part in the first resurrection will no longer be subject to death, the need for procreation will no longer exist, and in that regard believers will be like the angels in heaven who do not die nor reproduce themselves (cp also Mk 12:18-27). This is not teaching that angels are sexless and therefore unable to procreate (see also comments on 1Pe 3:18-20). Neither is it teaching that Christians will become angels, as some think. To better understand the resurrection we need to read the scriptures relating to it (cp Jn 5:28-29; 1Cor 15:19-23; 42-45, 51-57; Php 3:20-21; 1Th 4:13-18; Rev 20:4-6).
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)
As Jesus was God in His preincarnate state, He is David’s Lord. In His human state Jesus is David’s son in that He descended from David through Joseph, who was married to His mother Mary (cp Mt 1:1, 6-16; Lk 3:23-31). The Pharisees believed that Messiah would be merely a man, descended from David, but Jesus’ reply asserted His Deity as well (cp Mic 5:2; Mt 1:18-23; Lk 1:26-35, 38-43; Jn 1:1; Php 2:5-8; 1Ti 3:16; He 1:1-13; Rev 1:8; 22:13, 16). See also comments on Mt 1:18-21, Lk 1:3 B, Jn 12:41, Ac 13:33, 20:28, Php 2:5-8, 1Ti 3:16, He 1:5, 5:5, 1Jn 5:6-9, Rev 1:8.