Matthew 22:26

Commentary on Matthew 22:26 (KJV)

Matthew 22:26 is a specific line within a larger narrative, serving as a continuation of the Sadducees' hypothetical scenario presented to Jesus. This verse elaborates on the sequence of events in their challenging question regarding resurrection and marriage.

Context

This verse is found within a pivotal encounter between Jesus and the Sadducees, recorded in Matthew 22:23-33. The Sadducees were a prominent Jewish sect in Jesus' time known for their rejection of the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and the concept of a spiritual afterlife. They adhered strictly to the written Torah (the first five books of Moses) and dismissed later traditions or beliefs not explicitly found there. Their question to Jesus was a deliberate attempt to trap Him, using a convoluted scenario based on the law of levirate marriage found in Deuteronomy 25:5. This law stipulated that if a man died childless, his brother should marry the widow to raise up offspring for the deceased, ensuring the family line continued.

The Sadducees presented a scenario (beginning in Matthew 22:25) where seven brothers, one after another, married the same woman and all died without having children. Matthew 22:26 simply states the progression: "Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh," indicating that the pattern of marriage and death continued through all seven brothers. Their ultimate aim was to ask Jesus, in the resurrection, whose wife she would be, believing this absurdity would disprove the very idea of resurrection.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Sadducees' Misunderstanding of the Afterlife: This verse, within its larger passage, highlights the Sadducees' limited and earthly understanding of the resurrection. They could not conceive of an existence beyond the physical and its societal structures.
• The Nature of the Resurrection: While this verse itself is descriptive of the Sadducees' question, Jesus' subsequent answer (see Matthew 22:29-30) clarifies that the resurrected state transcends earthly marriage and human procreation, as people will be "as the angels of God in heaven."
• Jesus' Divine Wisdom: The very existence of this verse, as part of a challenge, showcases Jesus' unparalleled wisdom in navigating complex theological traps set by His adversaries. He did not fall into their earthly reasoning but elevated the discussion to divine truths.
• The Reality of Resurrection: Despite the Sadducees' attempt to disprove it, this passage ultimately affirms the biblical truth of the resurrection, a core doctrine of Christianity.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh" is a direct and clear translation of the Greek, emphasizing the sequential nature of the brothers' marriages. The term "likewise" (Greek: homoios) simply means "in the same manner," underscoring the repetitive pattern of the hypothetical situation. There are no particularly complex linguistic nuances in this specific verse, as it serves primarily as a narrative connector within the Sadducees' story.

Practical Application

Matthew 22:26, though a small part of a larger discussion, reminds us that our earthly understanding of life, relationships, and time is often insufficient to grasp the spiritual realities God has prepared for us. It encourages us to:

• Trust in God's Wisdom: Just as the Sadducees tried to limit God's power and plan to their own logic, we too can fall into the trap of trying to fit divine truths into our human frameworks. This passage encourages us to trust that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).
• Embrace the Hope of Resurrection: The broader context of this verse affirms the glorious promise of resurrection. Our future existence will be transformed and perfected, transcending the limitations and challenges of our present lives.
• Focus on Eternal Realities: While earthly relationships are important, this passage subtly points us toward the eternal nature of our being and the transformed state in which we will exist with God, where earthly institutions like marriage will give way to a new, spiritual reality.