Luke 20:32

Context of Luke 20:32

Luke 20:32 is a seemingly simple statement that concludes a complex hypothetical scenario presented to Jesus by the Sadducees. This Jewish sect was notable for denying the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and the spiritual realm (Acts 23:8). Their intention was not to seek truth but to trap Jesus with a theological conundrum, thereby discrediting His teaching on the afterlife.

The Sadducees' story, which begins in Luke 20:27, involves a woman who, according to the Mosaic Law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6), successively married seven brothers. Each brother died childless, requiring the next brother to take her as wife to raise up offspring for the deceased. The verse "Last of all the woman died also" serves as the final detail in their elaborate setup, leading directly to their "gotcha" question in Luke 20:33: "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she?"

Key Themes and Messages

• The Sadducees' Misunderstanding of Resurrection: This verse, within its context, highlights the Sadducees' limited, earthly understanding of the afterlife. They imagined resurrection to be merely a continuation of earthly life and its institutions, failing to grasp the transformed nature of existence in God's eternal kingdom. Their question reveals a fundamental spiritual blindness concerning divine power and scripture.
• The Temporary Nature of Earthly Institutions: The Sadducees' scenario implicitly treats marriage as an eternal institution. Jesus's subsequent answer (found in Luke 20:34-36) clarifies that while marriage is sacred and important in this life, it is not a feature of the resurrected state, where people are "as the angels which are in heaven."
• Setting the Stage for Divine Wisdom: The verse is crucial for setting up Jesus's profound response, which not only refutes the Sadducees' flawed premise but also offers a deeper revelation about the true nature of resurrection and eternal life. It underscores Jesus's authority and insight into spiritual matters that even learned religious leaders failed to grasp.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Last of all" translates the Greek ἔσχατον (eschaton), which simply means "last" or "finally." While the words themselves are straightforward, their placement at the end of the Sadducees' narrative is significant. It emphasizes the completeness of their earthly chain of events, ensuring that all participants in their hypothetical dilemma had passed away, thus making their resurrection question seem inescapable from their human perspective. The simplicity of the verse belies the profound theological debate it introduces regarding the nature of the future age and the resurrection from the dead.

Practical Application

Luke 20:32, within its broader narrative, serves as a reminder that our understanding of God's eternal plan should not be confined by our earthly experiences or logic. It challenges us to consider:

• Beyond Earthly Limitations: We should not project our current customs and relationships directly onto eternity. God's design for the new creation transcends our present understanding, promising a transformed existence that is free from the limitations and sorrows of this world (Revelation 21:4).
• Trust in God's Wisdom: When faced with spiritual questions that seem unanswerable or paradoxical, we are called to trust in God's perfect wisdom, as demonstrated by Jesus's response to the Sadducees. His teachings often reveal a reality far grander and more complex than human minds can initially conceive.
• Focus on Eternal Realities: While earthly life and relationships are important, this passage encourages us to prioritize eternal realities and spiritual truths over temporary concerns. The Sadducees' error was focusing on the earthly implications rather than the divine power of resurrection.