Luke 20:28

Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Saying {G3004}, Master {G1320}, Moses {G3475} wrote {G1125} unto us {G2254}, If {G1437} any man's {G5100} brother {G80} die {G599}, having {G2192} a wife {G1135}, and {G2532} he {G3778} die {G599} without children {G815}, that {G2443} his {G846} brother {G80} should take {G2983} his wife {G1135}, and {G2532} raise up {G1817} seed {G4690} unto his {G846} brother {G80}.

and put to him a sh’eilah: “Rabbi, Moshe wrote for us that if a man dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife and have children to preserve the man’s family line.

“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Luke 20:28 presents the Sadducees' challenge to Jesus, rooted in their interpretation of Mosaic Law concerning marriage and resurrection. This verse sets the stage for a profound theological discussion about life after death and the nature of God.

Context

This verse is part of a direct confrontation between Jesus and the Sadducees in the Temple. Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, angels, or spirits. To discredit Jesus' teachings on the resurrection, they present a hypothetical situation based on the ancient practice of Levirate marriage, as outlined in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. This law commanded a man to marry his deceased brother's childless widow to continue the family line and ensure the deceased brother's name and inheritance were preserved. The Sadducees concoct an extreme scenario involving seven brothers to try and expose what they saw as an absurdity in the concept of resurrection, specifically regarding marital status in the afterlife. Parallel accounts of this encounter can be found in Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27.

Key Themes

  • The Sadducees' Challenge to Resurrection: The core purpose of their question was to undermine the doctrine of resurrection, which they rejected. Their hypothetical scenario was designed to make the idea of an afterlife seem illogical if earthly marital customs persisted.
  • Levirate Marriage: The verse directly quotes the principle of Levirate marriage, a specific provision in the Mosaic Law intended to preserve a family's name and inheritance, particularly when a man died without male heirs. The phrase "raise up seed unto his brother" emphasizes the continuation of the family line.
  • Misunderstanding of Scripture: The Sadducees' error, as Jesus later explains in Luke 20:34-38, stems from their failure to understand both the power of God and the nature of the resurrected life. They project earthly conditions onto a spiritual reality.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "raise up seed unto his brother" directly translates the purpose of the Levirate marriage. The Hebrew concept behind this, yibbum, was not merely about procreation but about the continuation of the deceased's name and legacy within Israel. The KJV's "seed" (Greek: sperma) here refers to offspring or descendants, ensuring the deceased brother's lineage and inheritance were not lost.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of several truths:

  • Careful Interpretation of Scripture: It highlights the danger of misinterpreting or misapplying biblical texts to fit preconceived notions or to discredit spiritual truths. We must seek to understand God's Word in its proper context and intent.
  • The Nature of the Afterlife: While the Sadducees' question was flawed, Jesus' subsequent answer provides crucial insight into the nature of the resurrected life, showing that it transcends earthly relationships and limitations (see Luke 20:34-38).
  • Jesus' Wisdom: Jesus' ability to answer complex and trapping questions with divine wisdom demonstrates His authority and understanding of both human law and divine truth.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 25:5

    ¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.

  • Deuteronomy 25:10

    And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

  • Genesis 38:8

    And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

  • Genesis 38:26

    And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

  • Genesis 38:11

    Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren [did]. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

  • Ruth 1:11

    And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

  • Ruth 1:12

    Turn again, my daughters, go [your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back