Luke 20:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,

NIV: Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.

NASB: Jesus said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and the women are given in marriage,

CSB: Jesus told them, "The children of this age marry and are given in marriage.

NLT: Jesus replied, 'Marriage is for people here on earth.

KJV: And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

NKJV: Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

The Sadducees are trying to trap Jesus in a theological paradox. They do not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They know that Jesus does; He regularly talks about the judgment people will receive after they die (Matthew 5:21–22).

What the Sadducees do believe in is the Mosaic law. And they believe Jews are responsible for doing what is right. This includes practicing levirate marriage. If a man is married and dies childless, his brother is responsible to marry his wife and have a son in his name (Deuteronomy 25:5–6). They are using this system while attempting to trap Jesus. They present a hypothetical scenario in which a woman marries seven brothers, one at a time, but remains childless as each one dies. Then, she dies. If the resurrection of the dead is true, to which brother is she married (Luke 20:27–33)?

Jesus patiently answers their question: none of them. Now, on earth in this age, sons—male offspring of a family head—marry. But if they are found worthy of resurrection, they don't. There is no marriage in the age of the resurrection. They are like angels in that regard. It's not that marriage is meaningless, or unimportant. Rather, it's that "marriage" doesn't apply to the post-resurrection experience (Luke 20:35–36).

The Sadducees had hoped to expose Jesus as a teacher with nonsensical beliefs, and therefore not worth following. Like many skeptics today, they failed to see errors in their own worldview. They also ignored the ramifications if Jesus is right. Because if Jesus is right, no matter our doubts, misunderstandings, or possible errors we find in Scripture, there is always an answer.

The ESV says, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage." Other translations say women are given in marriage. Good arguments could be made for either representation.

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.