Book of Luke - Chapter 20 - Verse 33
Meaning
When reading the verse "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife," it is important to consider the context in which it was spoken. This verse comes from the gospel of Matthew, where the Sadducees were questioning Jesus about marriage in the afterlife. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, so they posed a hypothetical scenario to Jesus about a woman who had been married multiple times. They asked Jesus whose wife she would be in the resurrection, hoping to stump him with their question. However, Jesus used this opportunity to teach them about the nature of marriage and the resurrection. He explained that in the resurrection, people will be like angels and will not be married to each other. Therefore, the question of whose wife the woman would be in the resurrection was irrelevant. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding scripture in its proper context and the need for spiritual discernment when interpreting challenging passages.
Theological Overview
The verse from the book of Matthew poses a question about marriage in the context of the resurrection. The theological interpretation of this verse revolves around the concept of marriage in the afterlife. The Pharisees were testing Jesus by asking about a hypothetical scenario where a woman had been married to seven different men due to the levirate marriage law. In the resurrection, they questioned whose wife she would be. Jesus Christ's response focuses on the nature of relationships in eternity, indicating that marriage as we know it would not exist in the afterlife. This verse prompts a deeper reflection on the nature of relationships and the eternal state of believers. Through word studies, it becomes evident that the emphasis is on the eternal nature of life after death rather than the earthly relationships we hold dear. It challenges believers to think beyond human conventions and consider the spiritual realities that await them in the resurrection.