Matthew 22:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:

NIV: But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you,

NASB: But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God:

CSB: Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God:

NLT: But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead — haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,

KJV: But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

NKJV: But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,

Jesus has forcefully corrected a collection of wrong assumptions held by the religious group known as the Sadducees. These errors were revealed by their question about a woman married to seven brothers, one by one, during her life on earth. In their minds, resurrection in an afterlife would imply she is now married to seven men (Matthew 22:15–28). Jesus has first corrected their mistaken belief that there is marriage after death (Matthew 22:29–30). His statement, in fact, proclaims two doctrines the Sadducees rejected: the existence of angels, and the reality of an afterlife.

Here, Christ demonstrates that the very Scriptures the Sadducees claim to follow demonstrate the reality of an afterlife. In a brilliant maneuver, Jesus uses their exact strategy against them. In the following verse, He will ask a question, rooted in Scripture, which shows that some interpretation is impossible. In this case, the logic works, and the Sadducees will be stumped (Matthew 22:32–33).

Jesus often debated with religious leaders by asking if they have read something from Scripture. This time, though, He makes it personal. He asks if they have not read what God said to them. He will then quote to them from the Pentateuch, the only part of Scripture the Sadducees accept.

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.