Matthew 22:24

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

Saying {G3004}, Master {G1320}, Moses {G3475} said {G2036}, If {G1437} a man {G5100} die {G599}, having {G2192} no {G3361} children {G5043}, his {G846} brother {G80} shall marry {G1918} his {G846} wife {G1135}, and {G2532} raise up {G450} seed {G4690} unto his {G846} brother {G80}.

"Rabbi, Moshe said, `If a man dies childless, his brother must marry his widow and have children to preserve the man's family line.'

“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Matthew 22:24 captures the Sadducees' attempt to trap Jesus with a theological dilemma concerning the resurrection. In this verse, they quote a specific Old Testament law, aiming to demonstrate the absurdity of believing in an afterlife where marriage exists.

Context

This verse is part of a series of confrontations Jesus had with religious leaders in Jerusalem, shortly before His crucifixion. The Sadducees, a prominent Jewish sect, differed significantly from the Pharisees in their beliefs; notably, they denied the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and spirits (Acts 23:8). Their question here is not a genuine inquiry but a cunning challenge designed to discredit Jesus by presenting a scenario they believed logically disproved the resurrection.

The law they refer to is known as "levirate marriage" (from the Latin levir, meaning "brother-in-law"), detailed in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. This ancient Israelite custom mandated that if a man died without children, his brother was to marry the widow and "raise up seed" (produce an heir) for the deceased brother. The first son born of this union would be legally considered the son of the deceased, thus preserving the family name and inheritance.

Key Themes

  • Levirate Marriage: The verse highlights this unique Old Testament custom, which served a vital social and religious function in preserving family lines and ensuring the continuation of inheritance in Israelite society.
  • Sadducees' Challenge to the Resurrection: The core of their argument rests on the idea that if a woman had been married sequentially to seven brothers under this law, whose wife would she be in the resurrection? This scenario was intended to expose what they perceived as a flaw in the belief of resurrection.
  • Misunderstanding of God's Power and Scripture: The Sadducees' question reveals their limited understanding of both the nature of the resurrected life and the deeper spiritual truths within the Scriptures. They interpret God's laws and the afterlife through a purely earthly, literalistic lens.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "raise up seed unto his brother" (KJV) directly translates the purpose of levirate marriage. The term "seed" (Hebrew: zera') in this context refers to offspring or descendants, emphasizing the importance of lineage and continuity in the patriarchal society of ancient Israel. The practice ensured that the family name and property would not perish, especially for a man who died childless, which was often seen as a significant misfortune.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a reminder that earthly customs and laws, even divinely instituted ones, are designed for the conditions of this life. The Sadducees' error lay in projecting their limited human understanding and societal structures onto the eternal realities of God's kingdom. Jesus' subsequent response (in Matthew 22:29-32) corrects their fundamental misunderstanding, revealing that in the resurrection, believers will be like angels, neither marrying nor being given in marriage, and that God is the God of the living, not the dead.

For us today, it underscores the importance of interpreting Scripture in its full context, distinguishing between temporary earthly provisions and eternal spiritual truths. It also encourages us to trust in God's power and wisdom, which far transcend our human logic and experience.

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.

  • 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.

  • Mark 12:19

    Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave [his] wife [behind him], and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • 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.

  • Luke 6:46

    And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

  • 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?

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