Moment of Meditation: Tobit (Matthew 22:23-27)

''The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died."'' (Matthew 22:23-27)

The Sadducees' question seems absurd to those who do not understand the story of Tobit from the Apocrypha. In the book of Tobit, Tobit's relative Sarah was a young woman with whom the demon Asmodeus was in love with. She had been married seven times, but the demon killed each bridegroom before they could consummate their marriage (Tobit 3:7-9). It was not until Tobit's son Tobias defeated Asmodeus with the angel Raphael's help, that she was freed from the demon's influence.

Tobias was the next in line within the tribe of Naphtali to fulfill Deuteronomy 25:5 for Sarah (Tobit 6:12). Deuteronomy 25:5 tells us that a brother must become his widowed sister-in-law's husband to raise up a child for his deceased brother. This also seems absurd to modern ears. How many men would want to marry their brother's wife? How many women would want to marry their husband's brother? But this was the Law of Moses to continue the names and lineage of those in Israel so that no one's inheritance would be eliminated from Israel. God wants to bless all His people. Therefore He gave this law.

Tobias and Sarah were married and lived a long and happy life together. Would she be Tobias' wife in Heaven or one of her seven previous husbands? Listen next time to find out! Amen.