Luke 20:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."

NIV: Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"

NASB: Therefore, in the resurrection, which one’s wife does the woman become? For all seven married her.'

CSB: In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her."

NLT: So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!'

KJV: Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

NKJV: Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

This verse is the point where members of the Sadducee faction spring their philosophical trap on Jesus. He is on the Temple Mount, teaching His disciples and whomever else wants to listen. Religious leaders have been throwing out questions, trying to show the crowd that His teaching is wrong and the people shouldn't follow Him. First, they asked about who gave Him authority. He countered by threatening to reveal their sharp disagreement with the common people (Luke 20:1–8). Next, they asked Him if they should pay taxes to Caesar. He told them they should honor both Caesar and God (Luke 20:19–26).

The Sadducees continue the pattern of attempting to discredit Jesus without understanding potential flaws in their own argument. They tell a story about a woman whose husband died with no children. Following levirate marriage laws (Deuteronomy 25:5–6), she marries his brother to hopefully have a child who can inherit her first husband's birthright. The brother dies, as well. So, she marries the next. And then the next. In all, she marries seven brothers but never has a child. Then, she dies (Luke 20:27–32).

The Sadducees are trying to prove that the Mosaic law is incompatible with the resurrection of the dead. The assumption is that a woman can't be married to seven men. But this woman married seven, and after the resurrection they're all alive. So, whose wife is she?

Jesus points out that their scenario requires a false assumption: that there is marriage after the resurrection. There isn't (Luke 20:34–36). Once the woman dies, her marriages are fulfilled and resolved (Romans 7:2–3). This is not because they had no meaning, but because the purposes of marriage don't apply to the post-resurrection world.

Turning simple rebuttal into a devastating counter, Jesus then uses the Mosaic law and the Patriarchs to prove the resurrection is true (Luke 20:37–40).

Luke 20:27–40 records the Sadducees trying to discredit Jesus' authority to teach. They plan to present a paradox about marriage and the resurrection of the dead. Leaders of other religious sects have already failed to embarrass Jesus regarding the law and civil responsibilities (Luke 20:19–26). Jesus easily explains away the Sadducees' argument using the very text which their sect reveres: the Torah. He continues with proof that the Christ has authority over David and warns the people to be wary of the scribes' hypocrisy (Luke 20:41–47). This debate is also recorded in Matthew 22:23–33 and Mark 12:18–27.

After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus find Himself in conflict with the city's religious leaders. Elders, priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees all attempt to discredit Him. This comes mostly in challenging Jesus with trick questions. Jesus deftly handles those challenges without falling into the trap. He provides several teachings about His role as the Son of God and directly warns the Jewish people against their generation of scribes, who are arrogant and pretentious.

Luke 20 is a chiasm about authority. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple (Luke 19:28–46). Now, the priests and teachers attack Jesus' authority in religion, law, and doctrine; Jesus defends Himself and shows their sinful lifestyles disqualify them for authority. After holding up a widow as a better role model (Luke 21:1–4), Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges they will face in the coming years, including the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:5–38). The events in Luke 20 are also discussed in Matthew 21—23 and Mark 11—12.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.