This verse refers to a hypothetical situation presented to Jesus by the Sadducees, a Jewish sect who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They were trying to trap Jesus in a theological debate and make the idea of resurrection seem absurd.
The verse, Luke 20:31, "The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died," is part of a larger scenario described in Luke 20:27-33. This scenario is based on the ancient Jewish law of Levirate marriage, found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. This law stated that if a married man died without having children, his brother was obligated to marry the widow to produce an heir for the deceased brother, ensuring the continuation of his family line and inheritance.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its context:
"The third took her...": After the first brother died childless, the second brother married the widow according to Levirate law. This brother also died without fathering a child. Now, the third brother marries her.
"...and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.": This continues until all seven brothers have married the woman, and each has died without producing an heir.
"...and died.": The crucial point is that the woman, after marrying seven brothers, has had no children and is also now deceased.
The Sadducees' Argument:
The Sadducees' question to Jesus (Luke 20:33) is, "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had her as wife." Their reasoning is: if there is a resurrection, and marriage continues in the afterlife, this woman has been married to seven different men. Which one will be her husband? This, they believe, makes the idea of resurrection illogical and ridiculous. They are using this extreme and convoluted hypothetical to try to discredit the concept of resurrection, which they do not believe in.
Jesus' Response:
Jesus' response (Luke 20:34-36) is that the question itself is based on a flawed understanding of the afterlife. He explains that in the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like angels in heaven, and they will be children of God, being children of the resurrection. Thus, the rules and relationships of earthly life, including marriage, will not apply in the same way in the resurrection.
In summary, the verse highlights the absurdity of the Sadducees' hypothetical scenario, which they used to challenge the belief in resurrection. The verse underscores that none of the brothers had children, making the question of who would be her husband in the afterlife even more complex and, in their view, ludicrous. It's important to consider this verse within the context of the entire passage and Jesus' response to understand its meaning.
This verse refers to a hypothetical situation presented to Jesus by the Sadducees, a Jewish sect who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They were trying to trap Jesus in a theological debate and make the idea of resurrection seem absurd.
The verse, Luke 20:31, "The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died," is part of a larger scenario described in Luke 20:27-33. This scenario is based on the ancient Jewish law of Levirate marriage, found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. This law stated that if a married man died without having children, his brother was obligated to marry the widow to produce an heir for the deceased brother, ensuring the continuation of his family line and inheritance.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its context:
"The third took her...": After the first brother died childless, the second brother married the widow according to Levirate law. This brother also died without fathering a child. Now, the third brother marries her.
"...and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.": This continues until all seven brothers have married the woman, and each has died without producing an heir.
"...and died.": The crucial point is that the woman, after marrying seven brothers, has had no children and is also now deceased.
The Sadducees' Argument:
The Sadducees' question to Jesus (Luke 20:33) is, "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had her as wife." Their reasoning is: if there is a resurrection, and marriage continues in the afterlife, this woman has been married to seven different men. Which one will be her husband? This, they believe, makes the idea of resurrection illogical and ridiculous. They are using this extreme and convoluted hypothetical to try to discredit the concept of resurrection, which they do not believe in.
Jesus' Response:
Jesus' response (Luke 20:34-36) is that the question itself is based on a flawed understanding of the afterlife. He explains that in the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like angels in heaven, and they will be children of God, being children of the resurrection. Thus, the rules and relationships of earthly life, including marriage, will not apply in the same way in the resurrection.
In summary, the verse highlights the absurdity of the Sadducees' hypothetical scenario, which they used to challenge the belief in resurrection. The verse underscores that none of the brothers had children, making the question of who would be her husband in the afterlife even more complex and, in their view, ludicrous. It's important to consider this verse within the context of the entire passage and Jesus' response to understand its meaning.
