"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."
Matthew 22:32
The ancient Egyptians had their “god of the dead.” This god had the appearance of “a mummified man wearing a white cone-like headdress with feathers.”[1] His name was Osiris. In addition to his being their “god of the dead,” he supposedly was also their “god of resurrection.” Evidently, they believed that he made the barley grow every year. Imagine that, the “god of resurrection” was portrayed as a mummy! Ever dead and eternally wrapped in grave clothes! How sad!
“I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?”
At first glance, it appears that this marvelous declarative sentence should not end like a question. In the context of this verse, Jesus is answering a question asked of Him by the Sadducees. Once again, these religious leaders didn’t come to Jesus for information to help their spiritual lives, but to try to trap Him that they might have a case to destroy Him. Their question had to do with which of five brothers would get the wife after the resurrection. Jesus’ answer to these men was accusatory in that they should have known what the Scripture said, and they certainly should understand God’s power (Matthew 22:29).
“But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying” (Matthew 22:31).
“And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” (Mark 12:26).
It is obvious here that ignorance of the Scriptures is no satisfactory excuse with Jesus. With the availability of the Word of God in so many languages today, people standing before God’s judgment someday cannot say, “I didn’t know.” That answer will not be acceptable.
“I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” These simple but powerful words Jesus used to prove the resurrection. He borrowed them from the Torah, the only books that the Sadducees would accept. Using very simple logic, He said: “I am the God of Abraham…” If there were no resurrection from the dead, God would have said: “I was the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob…” According to God, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob live on in the resurrection.[2]
“Stated in a logical form the argument is: God is a God of the living only, but He is the God of Abraham, therefore Abraham is living. The same deduction from the words was made by the later Rabbinical writers.” [3]
“God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
This is terrific news for all the dead Old Testament saints, and for all those who have died in Christ over the last two thousand years. “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living!” In Christ, you are alive and will be raised again in the resurrection!
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.[4]
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
[1] Information on Osiris was gleaned from the www site, “Gods and Goddesses,” http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/explore/osiris.html. Downloaded: April 1, 2020.
[2] See Guzik on Matthew 22:32.
[3] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] “To God be the Glory,” third verse and chorus. Lyrics by Fannie Jane Crosby (1820-1915). Music: William Howard Doane (1832-1915). Copyright, Public Domain.