Matthew 22:25

KJV

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} there were {G2258} with {G3844} us {G2254} seven {G2033} brethren {G80}: and {G2532} the first {G4413}, when he had married a wife {G1060}, deceased {G5053}, and {G2532}, having {G2192} no {G3361} issue {G4690}, left {G863} his {G846} wife {G1135} unto his {G846} brother {G80}:

Complete Jewish Bible

There were seven brothers. The first one married and then died; and since he had no children, he left his widow to his brother.

Berean Standard Bible

Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother.

American Standard Version

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 22:25 introduces the Sadducees' elaborate hypothetical scenario presented to Jesus, designed to challenge His teaching on the resurrection of the dead. This verse sets the stage for their attempt to use an exaggerated application of the levirate marriage law, involving seven brothers successively marrying the same woman, all dying without heirs, to expose what they perceived as an absurdity in the concept of eternal life and marriage. It serves as a crucial setup for Jesus' profound and authoritative response regarding the nature of the resurrection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 22:25 follows directly on the heels of Jesus' successful navigation of a trap laid by the Pharisees and Herodians concerning the payment of taxes to Caesar ([Matthew 22:15-22](/matthew/22-15-22 "Matthew 22:15-22 - Paying Taxes to Caesar")). Having silenced one group of opponents, Jesus immediately faces another, the Sadducees, who represent a distinct theological challenge. This sequence highlights the escalating opposition Jesus faced from various Jewish religious factions, each attempting to discredit Him through different theological or political angles. The Sadducees' question, unlike the Pharisees' political one, delves into a core theological dispute, setting up Jesus' teaching on the resurrection, which is central to Christian doctrine.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sadducees were a prominent Jewish religious and political sect during the Second Temple period, primarily composed of the priestly aristocracy. Unlike the Pharisees, they rejected the oral law and held only the written Torah (the first five books of Moses) as authoritative. Crucially, they denied the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and spirits, believing that life ended at death. Their question in [Matthew 22](/matthew/22 "Matthew 22 - Confrontations with Jesus") is rooted in the ancient Israelite custom of levirate marriage, mandated in [Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - The Law of Levirate Marriage"). This law required a man to marry his deceased, childless brother's widow to "raise up offspring for his brother," ensuring the continuation of the family line and inheritance. The Sadducees' scenario, involving seven brothers, is a deliberate exaggeration designed to make the resurrection seem illogical and impractical if earthly marital customs were to persist in the afterlife.

* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several significant themes that Jesus addresses in His subsequent discourse. Firstly, it underscores the **Sadducees' theological skepticism** and their fundamental disagreement with Jesus (and the Pharisees) on the doctrine of the resurrection. Their question reveals their **misunderstanding of God's power and the nature of the resurrected life**, attempting to apply temporal, earthly laws and logic to an eternal, spiritual reality. The scenario itself highlights the **importance of the levirate marriage custom** in ancient Israelite society, demonstrating its role in family continuity and social welfare. Ultimately, the entire exchange, initiated by this verse, serves to affirm the **truth and reality of the resurrection** and clarify its nature, as Jesus explains in [Matthew 22:29-32](/matthew/22-29-32 "Matthew 22:29-32 - Jesus' Response to the Sadducees").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **married a wife (Greek, _gaméō'_):** From _gámos_ (marriage), this verb means "to wed" or "to marry." In this context, it specifically refers to the act of taking a wife. The Sadducees' hypothetical scenario hinges on the repeated act of marriage, emphasizing the earthly institution they believe would cause confusion in a resurrected state.
* **deceased (Greek, _teleutáō'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to finish" or "to complete," this verb signifies "to finish life," "to expire," or "to die." The repeated death of the brothers without issue is the central element of the Sadducees' argument, creating the supposed dilemma for Jesus regarding the afterlife.
* **issue (Greek, _spérma'_):** Literally "something sown" or "seed," this term is used here by implication to mean "offspring" or "children." The phrase "having no issue" (Greek, _mḗ échōn spérma_) is critical, as the levirate marriage law was specifically enacted for cases where a deceased brother left no male heir to continue his lineage. The Sadducees emphasize this absence of offspring to maximize the perceived absurdity of their scenario in the resurrection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now there were with us seven brethren:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the context of the Sadducees' question. The "us" refers to the Sadducees themselves, indicating they are presenting a scenario from their own perspective or as a common theological puzzle they posed. The number "seven" is significant, not necessarily implying a real-life event, but rather an exaggerated, almost parabolic, number chosen to amplify the complexity of their hypothetical situation and push the limits of the levirate marriage law.
* **"and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased,"** This introduces the initial event of the Sadducees' hypothetical. The first brother marries, fulfilling the expected social norm, but then dies. This death is the catalyst for the application of the levirate marriage law, setting in motion the sequence of events that will follow.
* **"and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:"** This final clause provides the crucial detail that triggers the levirate marriage obligation. The deceased brother had "no issue" (no children), specifically no male heir, which was the primary condition for the law to apply. Consequently, his wife was "left unto his brother," meaning the next brother in line was obligated to marry her to raise up an heir for the deceased, thus continuing the family name and inheritance. This action initiates the chain of events involving all seven brothers.

#### Literary Devices
The Sadducees' presentation in Matthew 22:25 employs several literary devices. The most prominent is the **Hypothetical Scenario**, a common rhetorical device used to explore the implications of a particular belief or law. Here, it is crafted to expose what the Sadducees perceive as an inherent flaw in the doctrine of the resurrection. This scenario is further characterized by **Exaggeration**, specifically the use of "seven brethren." While levirate marriage was a real custom, a situation involving seven brothers successively marrying the same woman, all dying childless, is highly improbable and designed to push the limits of the law to an absurd degree, thereby strengthening their argument against the resurrection. There is also a subtle **Irony** at play: the Sadducees, who pride themselves on their adherence to the Torah, use a law from the Torah ([Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - The Law of Levirate Marriage")) to argue against a concept (resurrection) that they believe is not explicitly taught in the Torah, yet Jesus will use the Torah itself to prove the resurrection.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 22:25, though merely setting the stage, immediately plunges into a profound theological debate concerning the nature of life beyond death and the attributes of God. The Sadducees' error, which Jesus will address, stems from their limited view of God's power and their attempt to project earthly realities onto heavenly ones. They fail to grasp that the resurrected state transcends human institutions like marriage, which serve a purpose in the temporal realm (procreation, family lineage) but are not necessary in eternity. This passage underscores the truth that God's plan for eternity is not merely an extension of earthly life but a transformed existence that operates under different, divine principles. It challenges believers to expand their understanding of God's limitless power and the glorious, yet often mysterious, realities of the age to come.

* [Mark 12:23](/mark/12-23 "Mark 12:23 - The Resurrection and Marriage")
* [Luke 20:34-36](/luke/20-34-36 "Luke 20:34-36 - Jesus on Marriage in the Resurrection")
* [1 Corinthians 15:42-44](/1_corinthians/15-42-44 "1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - The Nature of the Resurrected Body")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Sadducees' challenge, introduced in Matthew 22:25, serves as a timeless reminder for us not to confine God's power or the realities of His kingdom within the boundaries of our human logic or earthly experiences. Just as they struggled to conceive of a resurrected life that didn't mirror their present one, we too can fall into the trap of limiting God based on our finite understanding. This passage encourages us to approach Scripture with humility, recognizing that divine truths often transcend our immediate comprehension. It calls us to trust in God's wisdom and power, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of correctly interpreting God's Word, ensuring that our theological frameworks are built on His revealed truth rather than our preconceived notions or cultural assumptions. Our hope in the resurrection is not merely an extension of this life but a transformation into a new, glorious reality with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or understanding do I tend to limit God's power or His ability to work beyond my expectations?**
* **How might my earthly experiences or cultural norms unconsciously shape my understanding of spiritual realities?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the importance of deep, prayerful study of Scripture to avoid misinterpretations?**
* **How does the Sadducees' error encourage me to embrace the mysterious and transformative aspects of God's future plans for His people?**

### FAQ

**What was the purpose of the Sadducees' question about the seven brothers?**

Answer: The Sadducees' primary purpose was to discredit Jesus and His teachings, specifically His affirmation of the resurrection of the dead. Since they did not believe in the resurrection, they crafted an exaggerated hypothetical scenario based on the levirate marriage law ([Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - The Law of Levirate Marriage")) to expose what they perceived as the absurdity and impracticality of resurrection if earthly institutions like marriage continued into the afterlife. They believed their question would trap Jesus in a logical dilemma, proving the resurrection to be an untenable doctrine.

**What was the law of levirate marriage, and why was it important?**

Answer: The law of levirate marriage (from the Latin `levir`, meaning "brother-in-law") is found in [Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - The Law of Levirate Marriage"). It stipulated that if a man died without children, his brother was obligated to marry the widow to "raise up offspring for his brother." The first son born from this union would be considered the heir of the deceased brother, ensuring the continuation of his name and lineage, and preventing his inheritance from being lost. This law was crucial for maintaining family lines, preserving property, and providing social and economic security for the widow in ancient Israelite society.

**How did Jesus respond to the Sadducees' challenge?**

Answer: While Matthew 22:25 only introduces the Sadducees' question, Jesus' profound response is found in the subsequent verses ([Matthew 22:29-32](/matthew/22-29-32 "Matthew 22:29-32 - Jesus' Response to the Sadducees")). Jesus countered their argument by stating, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God" ([Matthew 22:29](/matthew/22-29 "Matthew 22:29 - Jesus Corrects the Sadducees")). He clarified that in the resurrection, people "neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" ([Matthew 22:30](/matthew/22-30 "Matthew 22:30 - No Marriage in Resurrection")). Furthermore, He proved the resurrection from the very Torah the Sadducees claimed to uphold, quoting [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"), where God identifies Himself to Moses as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," implying that these patriarchs were still living in God's presence, for "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living" ([Matthew 22:32](/matthew/22-32 "Matthew 22:32 - God of the Living")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 22:25, by setting up the Sadducees' challenge to the resurrection, ultimately paves the way for Jesus to reveal profound truths about the eternal state, truths that find their ultimate fulfillment in Him. The Sadducees' error was their failure to grasp God's power and the transformed nature of resurrected life, a transformation perfectly embodied in Christ Himself. His own resurrection from the dead ([Matthew 28:6](/matthew/28-6 "Matthew 28:6 - He is Not Here, He is Risen!")) is the foundational event that validates His claims and proves the reality of the resurrection for all who believe. Jesus, as the "resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), did not merely teach about a future resurrection; He demonstrated it in His own body. His victory over death means that the earthly limitations and concerns, like marriage for procreation or lineage, are superseded by a new, spiritual reality in Him. In Christ, believers are promised a resurrected body ([1 Corinthians 15:42-44](/1_corinthians/15-42-44 "1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - The Spiritual Body")) that is imperishable and glorious, living eternally in direct communion with God, a state where the earthly institution of marriage is no longer needed because the ultimate union is with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ ([Revelation 19:7](/revelation/19-7 "Revelation 19:7 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")). Thus, the Sadducees' question, intended to undermine the resurrection, inadvertently highlights the glorious, Christ-centered hope of a transformed existence.

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

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.

Mark 12:23

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

Hebrews 9:27

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Luke 20:29

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

Luke 20:33

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.