Mark 12:21 - The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
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What does "Mark 12:21" mean?
This verse is part of a larger story Jesus is telling to answer a question posed by the Sadducees, who don't believe in the resurrection. The context is crucial to understanding the verse:
The Law of Levirate Marriage: The verse refers to a Jewish law (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) known as Levirate marriage. If a married man died without having children, his brother was obligated to marry the widow. The purpose was to continue the deceased brother's family line and provide security for the widow, who would otherwise have no inheritance or social standing. The first son born of this union would be considered the heir of the deceased brother.
The Scenario: The Sadducees present a hypothetical scenario: A woman is married to seven brothers in succession, each dying without having children. They ask Jesus, "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."
The Meaning of Mark 12:21: "The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;" simply means that the second brother married the woman, as required by the law, but also died without fathering any children. Then the third brother followed the same fate, and so on. This highlights the unusual and seemingly impossible situation the Sadducees are creating.
The Point: The Sadducees' question is a trap. They believe this absurd scenario exposes the absurdity of the resurrection. They reason that if resurrection is true, then the Levirate marriage custom would lead to an unresolvable conflict of husbands in the afterlife. They hope to discredit the idea of resurrection through this hypothetical problem.
Jesus' Response: Jesus refutes their argument by stating that in the resurrection, marriage will no longer exist. He says, "Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." He also proves that there is a resurrection by quoting God when He says "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." (Exodus 3:6), implying that these men are still alive in the eyes of God.
In essence, Mark 12:21 is a small but important part of a larger story about a tricky question and Jesus' answer that shows the Sadducees' misunderstanding of both scripture and the power of God.
Mark 12:21 - The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
What does "Mark 12:21" mean?
This verse is part of a larger story Jesus is telling to answer a question posed by the Sadducees, who don't believe in the resurrection. The context is crucial to understanding the verse:
The Law of Levirate Marriage: The verse refers to a Jewish law (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) known as Levirate marriage. If a married man died without having children, his brother was obligated to marry the widow. The purpose was to continue the deceased brother's family line and provide security for the widow, who would otherwise have no inheritance or social standing. The first son born of this union would be considered the heir of the deceased brother.
The Scenario: The Sadducees present a hypothetical scenario: A woman is married to seven brothers in succession, each dying without having children. They ask Jesus, "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."
The Meaning of Mark 12:21: "The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;" simply means that the second brother married the woman, as required by the law, but also died without fathering any children. Then the third brother followed the same fate, and so on. This highlights the unusual and seemingly impossible situation the Sadducees are creating.
The Point: The Sadducees' question is a trap. They believe this absurd scenario exposes the absurdity of the resurrection. They reason that if resurrection is true, then the Levirate marriage custom would lead to an unresolvable conflict of husbands in the afterlife. They hope to discredit the idea of resurrection through this hypothetical problem.
Jesus' Response: Jesus refutes their argument by stating that in the resurrection, marriage will no longer exist. He says, "Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." He also proves that there is a resurrection by quoting God when He says "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." (Exodus 3:6), implying that these men are still alive in the eyes of God.
In essence, Mark 12:21 is a small but important part of a larger story about a tricky question and Jesus' answer that shows the Sadducees' misunderstanding of both scripture and the power of God.