Matthew 22:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: saying, "Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’

NIV: "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

NASB: saying, 'Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother.’

CSB: "Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

NLT: Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’

KJV: Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

NKJV: saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

Members of the Sadducees have approached Jesus (Matthew 22:23). The Sadducees were unique in Judaism because they did not believe in resurrection or life after death. They were known for being aristocrats and politicians above all else, making them unpopular with common people, especially in comparison to the more spiritual Pharisees. In this challenge, they are hoping to stump Christ with a difficult question. Unlike the Pharisees, however, they are not likely trying to get Him arrested or killed. Later, the Sadducees will conspire with the Pharisees to have Jesus killed (John 11:45–57).

For now, their question is meant to prove a theological point: that resurrection of the dead, so far as they understand it, is absurd within the framework of the Law.

They address Jesus as "teacher," but their respectful attitude is only slightly more sincere than the previous group of questioners. They begin by citing Deuteronomy 25:5–10, describing a Levirate marriage. That part of the Law states that if a man dies without having children, the man's brother must take the dead man's widow as his own wife. The first son they have together will be considered the son of brother who has died. This was a way of continuing the family line of the brother who had passed away, and of providing for the otherwise-destitute widow.

The practice dated prior to Moses, notably mentioned when Onan refused to carry out this apparent duty of a brother (Genesis 38:8–10). Moses' law made the practice official, but it also allowed for the brother to refuse to take his late brother's wife if he chose not to do so at the price of being publicly shamed by the wife (Deuteronomy 25:7–10). Scholars speculate that Levirate marriage was not frequently practiced in Israel during Jesus' era.

Jesus will respond by correcting their misunderstanding of both marriage and the nature of life after death (Matthew 22:29–32).

Matthew 22:23–33 contains another challenge for Jesus. This one comes from the Sadducees: a Jewish religious group that did not believe in an afterlife. Attempting to prove their view, they describe a hypothetical situation based on a requirement from the Law of Moses. A woman is married to seven brothers, one after another, as each dies and passes her on. Whose wife will she be in the resurrection? Jesus replies that the question is flawed: there is no marriage in the resurrection. He then references Scripture to show that the Lord is God of the living, including faithful patriarchs such as Abraham and Jacob. Parallel accounts are recorded in Mark 12:18–27 and Luke 20:27–40.

Continuing a dialogue with hostile religious leaders, Jesus tells a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast which ends up being attended by those not initially invited. He answers trick questions about taxes, marriage, resurrection, and the Law of Moses. These responses are the source of common English idioms such as "render to Caesar…" and "many are called but few are chosen." Finally, Jesus asks how the Messiah can be both the son of David and the Lord of David. None can answer Him, so they stop challenging Him in public.

This chapter extends an exchange between Jesus and several groups of religious leaders in the temple. The previous chapter concluded with two parables about the failures of the religious leaders. This chapter begins with a third parable, about chosen guests who refuse to attend a wedding feast. Jesus then fields questions from several religious groups, who fail in their attempts to trip Him up. His wise and profound answers silence all of them. At this point, Jesus launches into a full-throated condemnation of the Pharisees in chapter 23.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.