This morning, many think we are going to heaven to be angels. However, this text shows that we will be AS 

angels in  certain respects, but we are NOT going to be angels. Angels are servants of the Most High God, but 

we are His children (shown manifestly at the resurrection). Therefore, when Christ speaks of us being as 

angels, He references the fact that we will not die in heaven (angels do not die) nor will we have natural ties

 (as angels are spiritual creatures). In these respects, we will be as angels in heaven. It is important to 

understand that Christ did not take upon Himself this nature (angels), but He made Himself of no reputation

 that He might suffer death for us. Without this, there would be no hope to ever live with Him.

This verse shows as clearly as any the principle that spiritual ties have far more weight and importance than 

natural ties. The Sadducees (who denied the resurrection anyway) were trying to reason through a spiritual 

concept by natural reasoning. Whose wife would a woman be in the resurrection if she had been married 

lawfully several times? Naturally, this is important to us, but in the resurrection (spiritually) none of her

 husbands are any more important than any other member in the resurrection. When in the Lord's spiritual

 kingdom, we have a foretaste of that heavenly majesty.  

While it is only in part (up there in the fulness), it still has the same substance that we will have in the 

resurrection. So, if natural ties are not important in the resurrection, we should not let them interfere in the

 kingdom here in Mount Zion. When in His service labouring in His vineyard, we may be blessed to have 

natural family labouring with us. However, they are no more or less important than those other labourers

 that we may not be closely related to by nature. A man's wife and children (naturally) are no more 

important than another man and his family in the house of the Lord.  

The Lord Himself on one occasion had His mother and brethren waiting outside to see Him. However, 

He motioned that those gathered round about Him were His mother and brethren. When one lady tried 

to ascribe too much glory to Mary, our Lord responded by saying that one was blessed that did the 

precepts of the Lord more than the one who bore our Saviour into this world. (Luke 11:27-28) Having

 natural family as part of the spiritual family is a great blessing, but caution must be exercised to keep it 

from becoming a burden and curse. Churches have split and made factions over family disagreements.  

In His service, we must keep the main thing the main thing. Our eyes, hearts, minds, and foremost 

thoughts need to be on Him, for He had the ability to never have taken upon Himself the nature of 

Abraham (sin excepted). However, He loved us enough to lay aside His glory, take that nature upon 

Him, be despised and rejected of men, be forsaken by His Father in heaven, and die in our room and

 stead. Then, that awesome Power raised that body back to life to give us the hope, strength, and 

consolation that we will one day be wholly and holy in His presence. When viewing that scene, what 

form of nature could possibly compare? As the songwriter penned about heaven and immortal glory, 

"Imagination's utmost stretch, in wonder dies away."

In Hope,

Bro Philip