One Bride for Seven Brothers
Matthew 21:23-33
Cast: 4 men dressed as
Sadducees. They could be in robes or
bright clothing, even a little bling to add to their display of wealth. Most of the speaking parts are between
Sadducees #1 and #2. Sadducees 3 & 4
follow the conversation intently by leaning in and nodding agreement or reacting
with shock where appropriate until time to insert their brief comments.
Set: Any. Dialogue and gesturing move the action.
All 4 Sadducees come onto the stage singing and dancing to
the tune of “We are Family.” Even though
they are singing, their heads are hanging and they look defeated.
We are Sadducees. We say the resurrection wont’ be.
That’s why we are sad
you see. All seven brothers and me.
#1 I can’t believe
that didn’t work.
#2 You’re telling
me. It drives the Pharisees crazy. Every time it works with them.
#1 It’s never let us
down before. I was just sure after Jesus
took that coin and said to render unto
Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s, he would
have been on an emotional high and vulnerable to the 7 brothers quandary.
#2 He sure showed the
Pharisees.
#1 We should have
been able to catch him off guard.
#2 You would think we
would have had him hook, line, and sinker, but…
#1 Was it the way I
posed the question?
#2 No! You were on the money. A man died without children so his next
oldest brother took his wife and he died without children, so the next oldest
took her as his wife and he died without children.
#1 All the way
through 7 brothers. This is the law of
Moses. It was the perfect trap.
#2 Except that it
wasn’t. Did you hear the guy in the
back?
#1 Oh yeah, the smart Alec who said that those
had to be the most ignorant brothers on the planet. You would think after the third brother the
rest would get wise. Marry this girl and
you will die young. Better to make a sin
offering and stay single and alive.
Yeah, I heard him.
#2 I think that
everybody heard him, but he kind of had a point.
#1
Stop it! We made this story up to
frustrate the Pharisees. These are not
real brothers.
#2
OK. But the seven made-up-brothers story didn’t work with Jesus. Where did we go wrong?
#1
First of all, he said that we were wrong about the resurrection. Who does he think he is?
#3
Some people say that he is a prophet or even the Messiah.
#4
What if he is the Son of God?
#1
Cool it. We are right about there
being no resurrection.
#3
But he said we would be like angels.
#4
Not angels but like them.
#3
And marriage just wasn’t a thing.
#1
I said, enough!
#2
There is the whole God of the living not the dead deal.
#1
Don’t remind me.
#2
Too late.
#1
I can’t get those words out of my mind:
But about the resurrection of the
dead—have you not read what God said to you, I am the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God
of the dead but of the living.
#2
What can we say to that?
#1
Exactly. What can we say to that.
#2
You know how the Pharisees are always using the play on words with us?
#1
You mean where they say the Sadducees don’t believe in the resurrection,
that’s why they are SAD YOU SEE.
#2. Yeah, that’s the one. What if there is a resurrection? Wouldn’t that be something good?
#1
You mean agreeing with the Pharisees?
I’ll have none of it!
#2
What if we didn’t agree with the Pharisees so much as we did with this
fellow called Jesus? Would that be so
bad.
#1
The people were amazed at his teachings.
#2
And we have read what God said. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob.
#1
I am and not I was. Wow, that’s some heavy thinking. It’s like God still has a relationship with
Abraham.
#3
And Isaac.
#4
And Jacob.
#2
What if he is I Am or sent from I Am?
#1
God save us if he is!
# 2, 3, & 4 (together): God save us if he is!
The end.
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