Luke 20:36

KJV

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

KJV (with Strong's)

Neither {G3777}{G1063} can {G1410} they die {G599} any more {G2089}: for {G1063} they are {G1526} equal unto the angels {G2465}; and {G2532} are {G1526} the children {G5207} of God {G2316}, being {G5607} the children {G5207} of the resurrection {G386}.

Complete Jewish Bible

because they can no longer die. Being children of the Resurrection, they are like angels; indeed, they are children of God.

Berean Standard Bible

In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.

American Standard Version

for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 20:36 presents Jesus' profound teaching on the nature of resurrected life, clarifying that those deemed worthy of the age to come will no longer experience death. They will share a unique, immortal status akin to angels, fundamentally defined by their direct relationship as children of God and their new identity as "children of the resurrection," signifying their complete transformation and triumph over mortality through divine power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Jesus' direct response to the Sadducees' theological challenge regarding the resurrection, recorded in [Luke 20:27-40](/luke/20-27-40 "Jesus' Debate with the Sadducees on the Resurrection"). The Sadducees, a prominent Jewish sect, notoriously rejected the concept of a bodily resurrection, angels, and spirits, as explicitly stated in [Acts 23:8](/acts/23-8 "Sadducees' Disbelief in Resurrection"). To ridicule the idea of resurrection, they presented Jesus with a hypothetical scenario involving a woman who had been married sequentially to seven brothers under the levirate marriage law ([Deuteronomy 25:5-10](/deuteronomy/25-5-10 "Levirate Marriage Law")). Their question, "Whose wife will she be in the resurrection?" ([Luke 20:33](/luke/20-33 "The Sadducees' Question")), aimed to expose what they perceived as an absurdity in the resurrection doctrine. Jesus' answer, beginning in [Luke 20:34](/luke/20-34 "Jesus' Response to the Sadducees"), directly corrects their fundamental misunderstanding, explaining that the resurrected state transcends earthly marital conventions and mortal limitations, setting the stage for the declaration of immortality and divine sonship in verse 36.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sadducees represented the priestly aristocracy and were politically aligned with the Roman authorities. Their theological distinctives included a strict adherence to the written Torah, rejecting oral traditions and doctrines not explicitly found in the Pentateuch, such as the resurrection of the dead. This put them in direct opposition to the Pharisees, who did believe in the resurrection. The levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) was a Mosaic provision designed to preserve a deceased man's lineage and inheritance within Israel. The Sadducees' use of this law in their question to Jesus demonstrates their attempt to apply earthly, temporal laws to an eternal, spiritual reality, revealing their limited understanding of God's power and the nature of the age to come. Jesus' teaching here, therefore, not only corrects a theological error but also challenges the Sadducees' narrow, anthropocentric view of divine truth, asserting a reality far grander than their earthly paradigms.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 20:36 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Luke's Gospel and biblical theology. Foremost is the **Nature of Resurrected Life**, emphasizing its radical difference from mortal existence, particularly in the cessation of death and earthly institutions like marriage, as highlighted in [Luke 20:34-35](/luke/20-34-35 "Jesus on Marriage in the Resurrection"). This points to the **Triumph Over Death**, showcasing God's ultimate victory over humanity's greatest enemy, a theme central to the Christian hope. The verse also underscores **Divine Sonship**, affirming that those who partake in the resurrection are intimately related to God, a status fully realized and manifested in their glorified state. This divine relationship is not merely a legal declaration but an experiential reality in the eschatological age. Furthermore, the description of the resurrected as "equal unto the angels" speaks to their **Immortality and Glorified State**, sharing in the angels' imperishable nature, though not becoming angels themselves. This passage, therefore, serves as a foundational text for understanding the future hope of believers and the transformative power of God's redemptive plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **die (Greek, _apothnḗskō'_):** This verb signifies "to die off" or "to be dead." In the context of Luke 20:36, its negation ("neither can they die any more") emphasizes the absolute and permanent cessation of mortality for those who are resurrected. It points to an eternal state of life, free from the decay and ultimate end that characterize earthly existence. This is a definitive statement of immortality, a core promise of the resurrection.
* **equal unto the angels (Greek, _isángelos'_):** This compound adjective literally means "like an angel" or "equal to angels." It does not imply that resurrected humans transform into angelic beings, but rather that they share certain key characteristics with angels. Specifically, in this context, the equality refers to their immortal nature and their freedom from the need for procreation and marriage, which are earthly means of perpetuating life. It highlights a shared imperishability and a spiritualized existence that transcends mortal limitations.
* **resurrection (Greek, _anástasis'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to stand up again," _anástasis_ refers to "a standing up again" or "a rising from the dead." In Luke 20:36, being "children of the resurrection" signifies that their very identity and existence are fundamentally defined and shaped by this transformative event. It is the source of their new, immortal life and their divine sonship, demonstrating God's power to restore and glorify human existence beyond the grave.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Neither can they die any more:"** This opening clause delivers a powerful declaration of absolute immortality. For those who are "accounted worthy to obtain that age, and the resurrection from the dead" ([Luke 20:35](/luke/20-35 "Jesus on the Worthiness for Resurrection")), death loses its sting and its power. This is not a temporary reprieve but a permanent state of imperishability, a fundamental characteristic of life in the age to come. It signifies a complete victory over the curse of death introduced by sin.
* **"for they are equal unto the angels;"** This clause provides the reason for their immortality. The resurrected are likened to angels not in essence or species, but in their shared attribute of being deathless. Angels do not marry or procreate, nor do they experience physical death. Thus, this comparison highlights the cessation of earthly biological and social functions, emphasizing a spiritualized and eternal mode of existence where the continuation of life is not dependent on mortal means.
* **"and are the children of God,"** This phrase establishes a profound relational identity. The resurrected are not merely immortal beings, but they are intimately connected to God as His "children." This status signifies their divine adoption, their inheritance, and their full participation in God's family. It speaks to a completed spiritual inheritance and a direct, unhindered relationship with the Father, a status fully realized and manifested in the resurrection.
* **"being the children of the resurrection."** This final clause further clarifies and reinforces the identity of the resurrected. Their status as "children of God" is directly linked to and defined by the resurrection. It is through this transformative event that their divine sonship is fully actualized and made manifest. The resurrection is not just an event that happens to them, but it becomes the very essence of their new being, marking them as those who have triumphed over death through God's power, ushering them into an eternal, glorified existence.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 20:36 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological truths. **Comparison** is central, as Jesus draws a parallel between the resurrected and angels ("equal unto the angels") to explain the nature of life beyond death, particularly concerning immortality and the absence of marriage. This comparison serves to illuminate the radical discontinuity between earthly and heavenly existence. **Metaphor** is evident in the phrases "children of God" and "children of the resurrection." These are not literal biological relationships but powerful metaphorical expressions of identity, status, and origin. "Children of God" signifies divine adoption and a familial relationship with the Creator, while "children of the resurrection" metaphorically defines their new existence as being born out of and fundamentally shaped by the resurrection event itself. The verse also utilizes **Emphasis** through negation ("Neither can they die any more"), which provides an absolute and unequivocal statement about the imperishable nature of the resurrected, underscoring the finality of death's defeat.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 20:36 offers a profound glimpse into the eschatological hope for believers, revealing the glorious nature of life beyond the grave. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, demonstrating His power to transform mortal bodies into immortal ones. The verse highlights the ultimate fulfillment of divine adoption, where believers fully realize their status as "children of God," inheriting eternal life and an intimate relationship with the Father. This future state is characterized by an end to suffering, decay, and the limitations of earthly existence, promising a glorified body and a spiritualized mode of being that transcends our current understanding. It reassures believers that death is not the end, but a gateway to a new, imperishable reality, confirming the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan.

* [1 Corinthians 15:42-44](/1_corinthians/15-42-44 "The Nature of the Resurrected Body")
* [Romans 8:14-17](/romans/8-14-17 "Children of God and Co-heirs with Christ")
* [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "No More Death, Mourning, Crying, or Pain")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 20:36 provides immense comfort and hope, reminding us that our earthly existence, with its inherent mortality and limitations, is not the final chapter. The promise of an immortal, deathless future challenges us to re-evaluate our priorities, shifting our focus from transient worldly pursuits to the eternal realities of God's kingdom. Knowing that we are destined to be "children of God" and "children of the resurrection" should instill a profound sense of identity and purpose, motivating us to live lives worthy of this divine calling. This verse encourages us to grieve with hope, knowing that physical death is a transition, not an annihilation, for those in Christ. It calls us to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in God's power to conquer death and to bring us into a glorious, imperishable future where we will fully experience our divine sonship, free from the sorrows and limitations of this present age.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the promise of immortality in Luke 20:36 transform your perspective on physical death and the future?**
* **In what ways does being called "children of God" and "children of the resurrection" shape your identity and purpose in the present?**
* **What earthly concerns or anxieties might you release if you truly embraced the reality of a deathless, angelic-like existence in the age to come?**

### FAQ

**Do we become angels in heaven, or does "equal unto the angels" mean something else?**

Answer: No, Luke 20:36 does not teach that humans become angels. The phrase "equal unto the angels" (Greek: _isángelos_) indicates a similarity in certain characteristics, not a transformation into angelic beings. Jesus clarifies that in the resurrection, believers will share with angels the quality of being immortal and no longer subject to death. Additionally, just as angels do not marry or procreate, resurrected humans will also transcend these earthly institutions, as marriage is for the continuation of the human race in a mortal world, not for the eternal, immortal state. Our identity as human beings, glorified and perfected, remains, but our mode of existence becomes like that of angels in its imperishability and freedom from earthly limitations, as explained in [Luke 20:34-35](/luke/20-34-35 "Jesus' Explanation of Marriage in the Resurrection").

**What does it mean to be "children of the resurrection"?**

Answer: To be "children of the resurrection" means that one's identity, life, and status are fundamentally defined by and derived from the resurrection. It signifies that those who are resurrected are not merely brought back to life, but they are transformed into a new, imperishable mode of existence through God's power. This designation underscores that their divine sonship ("children of God") is fully realized and manifested through this transformative event. It highlights their triumph over death and their entrance into an eternal, glorified state, where they are no longer subject to the limitations and mortality of the present age. It's an identity marker that points to the source and nature of their eternal life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 20:36 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is Himself "the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life")). His own resurrection from the dead is the foundational event that validates the promise of immortality for all believers. Jesus is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "Christ, the Firstfruits of the Resurrection")), demonstrating the pattern and power of the future resurrection for all who are united with Him. Through His death and resurrection, Christ conquered death and rendered powerless "him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" ([Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Christ's Victory Over Death")). It is by virtue of our union with Christ that believers are granted the status of "children of God" ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "Becoming Children of God Through Faith")), and it is His resurrection life that empowers us to live eternally, free from the dominion of death. Our future immortality and divine sonship, as described in [Luke 20:36](/luke/20-36 "Luke 20:36 - The Nature of Resurrected Life"), are not merely a theological concept but a guaranteed reality, secured by Christ's finished work and His ongoing reign, ensuring that "just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Newness of Life in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Philippians 3:21

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Revelation 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Matthew 22:30

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

1 Corinthians 15:42

So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Romans 8:17

¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8:23

And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.