Matthew 22:23-30:
On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, asking, "Teacher, Moses said, 'IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.' Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her."
But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."
Why is there no marriage in Heaven?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Because, hopefully, there will be no nagging.
John, you're awfully brave to be a married man and ask that question!
I have several thoughts, but because I am married, I know better than to express them.
I would like to point out that I'm in no way related to the first Matthew to post...
Of course, it's noteworthy that Jesus did not say that there is no marriage in Hell.
There is a marriage in heaven... of a bride and a bridegroom. All of our attention will be on that marriage. It will be glorious!
Hey, maybe there is no marriage in heaven because there is also no beer-- at least, that's what the polka song says.
Allan, bite your tounge!! No beer in heaven?? God help us all! How about wine?
If I can attempt a serious conjecture, I would suggest that it is because the quality of all our relationships will surpass even that of a husband and wife in this present age.
I'm of the opinion that marriage has been given to us as relationship in which most of us really learn to love another human being as Christ loved us. It's one thing to "love your neighbor" who lives across the world or even down the street. It's another thing to love the person you wake up with every morning year after year after year, through all of life's ups and downs. In the age to come, we won't require this particular arrangement to love deeply and fully.
In the resurrection (and that's the word Jesus uses here, not "in heaven"), the quality of our relationships will have matured beyond what is possible in this present age.
It's not that we will love our spouses less, it's that we will love them and everyone else even more. We've only caught a glimpse of what our relationships can and will be.
Perhaps to quote the choral piece:
"E'en so Lord Jesus quickly come, and night shall be no more. They need no light, nor lamp, nor sun: for Christ will be their all."
That is to say, a reason reason similar to why the heavenly city has no temple (a curious thing that John says, now that I think of it, if the temple had been destroyed for almost 30 years at that point - why does he point out that the heavenly New Jerusalem doesn't need one? - but then, it's been a long day).
Marriage and sexuality allows for a degree of intense intimacy in an atmosphere of trust and devotion. We need this because our sinful world destroys trust and intimacy at all levels.
In the Resurrection, living in the glorified presence of Christ, we will not need to hide from one another. When true communal intimacy becomes the standard of the day in the world to come, the private intimacy of the marriage will no longer be needed.
At least that's how I see it.
John, are you suggesting that sex and marriage are results of the Fall?
Rev J:
There's no whining in heaven either.
john, in that line, wouldn't one also take it that marriage will be perfected? that where marriage fails to meet God's standards because of our sinful hearts, we would be able to live perfectly in relationship to our marriage partner?
altho, perhaps the exclusivity of marriage may be an issue. the idea of all people, all nations, with no barriers between them, would mean the specialness of marriage may be prohibitive to that.
but i must say, i don't know. i often struggle with this one.
Post a Comment