Luke 20:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,

NIV: But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,

NASB: but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

CSB: But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.

NLT: But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

KJV: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

NKJV: But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

Jesus disarms an attack from the Sadducees with this statement. They are trying to show that a major post of Jesus' theology, the resurrection of the dead, is inconsistent with the Mosaic law. Their proof scenario is a woman who follows the practice of levirate marriage, marrying seven brothers in turn with no child. If they all rise from the dead, whose wife will she be (Luke 20:27–33)? As those who rejected resurrection, the Sadducees considered this an absurdity and evidence that there could be no future life for the dead.

Jesus explains that the woman won't be anyone's wife after resurrection. Neither will the men be anyone's husband. There is no marriage in the resurrection. The meaning and purpose of marriage are applied in earthly life, not in eternity. The Sadducees' assumptions about life after death are inaccurate, and correcting that error nullifies their challenge (Luke 20:34).

And yet, Jesus will not stop there. The Sadducees might not accept His claims about marriage. But they are bound to accept what's written in the Law of Moses: the first five books of Scripture. Jesus will use the Mosaic law to prove the Sadducees wrong about resurrection. God told Moses that He "is" the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This used the present tense, despite being stated hundreds of years after those patriarchs had died. God is the God of the living, not the dead. So, the patriarchs must be alive (Luke 20:37–38).

In Matthew, Jesus prefaces His answer by saying, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). The Sadducees' failure is greater than they can admit. Jesus has used the law they claim to follow to prove they will be resurrected. And if they are resurrected, they will be judged. The Sadducees don't believe God will judge and reward people after they die. Jesus has proved them wrong. And, still, they will conspire to kill Him.

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.