Mark 12:13 They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him, that they might trap Him with words. 14 When they had come, they asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You are honest, and do not defer to anyone; for You are not partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay, or should we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius, that I may see it.” 16 They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him. NHEB
This is a rather strange alliance as normally the Pharisees would view the Herodians as being compromised in their faith. The question, nonetheless, is relevant to both with their intent being to entrap or trick Jesus and thereby turn public opinion against Him. The Herodians, as lackeys for the Romans, would say that you should absolutely pay taxes. The Pharisees would say that taxes should not be paid because that represents compromise. (They would also view buying a sacrificial animal with money associated with Caesar as blasphemy hence the need for the money changers who exchange Roman money for neutral funds that can be used to purchase the animals without compromising the Temple). It would appear that no matter which way Jesus answers, one group is going to be irritated. Instead, Jesus gives an answer that neither group likes nor can use against Him.
The first question we would have is what is Caesar’s and what is God’s? This question has been answered in different ways by the church. Some say everything is God’s. Most most parts of the church, however, read this as two kingdoms. Under this theory, we live in both a Caesar realm and a God realm. We are in the world but not of the world. God has a worldly concern (see Romans 13) so Caesar exists to punish evil and promote good. Our own Declaration of Independence and Constitution reflect this type of Reformation thinking as it relates to the role of government. That’s not to say that we can’t reach a point where a line has to be drawn – for example when the apostles were asked to stop preaching about Jesus.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they were amazed. They recognized that they had been with Jesus….18 They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, 20 for we cannot help telling the things which we saw and heard.” 21 When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. NHEB
Not having received the answer they wanted, the Sadducees take junp into the mix.
Mark 12:18 There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take the wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. 21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; 22 and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God? 25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But about the dead, that they are raised; have you not read in the book of Moses, about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.” NHEB
Interesting that the Sadducees who don’t believe in resurrection ask a question concerning resurrection. The first thing to understand is that the woman in this example, like Ruth, has no status unless she is aligned with a man so she must remarry to regain her status. Jesus starts by telling them that they are mistaken and don’t know Scripture. In His example, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all long dead (from an earthly perspective) yet God tells Moses that He is still (i.e. currently) their God.
The angel discussion in verse 25 can be a little problematic. First is the notion some have that when we die, we will become angels (or like angels) yet angels and humans are separate species. There is a resemblance and part of that resemblance is in terms of relationships, such as the lack of marriage. The text suggests that we won’t have the same type of body since there will be no longer be a need for procreation.
Even though we have the understanding of “till death do we part” in terms of marriage, it seems out of place that the most important relationship we have in this world will be unknown to us in the afterlife. In all resurrection stories, Jesus has retained His identity and His relationships that he had with people prior to His death. As such, it is not unreasonable for us to expect the same thing keeping in mind that, as Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 15, we will be changed as we have exchanged our perishable nature for the imperishable. Earlier in 1Corinthians 13:12, Paul talks about coming to a point where we will know fully and be fully known which suggests an even greater, albeit different, intimacy than anything that we can experience in our earthly lives.
Last but not least, there are some who will point out that the text doesn’t say you are not married in Heaven, but only that you can’t get married in Heaven. Under this same line of reasoning, they will argue that if two become one in marriage, then they cannot be separated.