What does Luke 20:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse cited, Luke 20:28, is part of a discussion between Jesus and the Sadducees regarding the resurrection.

In this particular verse, the Sadducees are referencing a Mosaic law found in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, known as the "levirate marriage." This law stated that if a married man died without having children, his brother was to marry the widow and have children with her to carry on the dead brother's lineage and to protect the widow's social and economic status.

The Sadducees, who did not believe in an afterlife, presented a hypothetical scenario to Jesus involving a woman who marries seven brothers in succession, each dying without leaving her children, to challenge the concept of resurrection and question whose wife she would be in the afterlife.

Historical Context

The historical context of Luke 20:28 is first-century Judea under Roman rule.

The Jewish population at the time was diverse in terms of beliefs and practices, with various groups such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots having different religious and political perspectives.

The Sadducees were a Jewish sect that held positions of power in the priesthood and rejected beliefs not explicitly found in the Torah, such as resurrection and the afterlife.

This context is crucial because the question they pose to Jesus about resurrection is not just a matter of curiosity but an attempt to discredit Jesus' teaching on the resurrection of the dead, which was a point of contention between Jesus and the Sadducees.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse touches upon the debate about the afterlife and the resurrection, which were contested beliefs in Judaism during Jesus' time.

Sadducees denied the resurrection, while Pharisees affirmed it.

When Jesus responds to the Sadducees in the verses that follow, he emphasizes the living nature of God and the continuation of life beyond death.

This interaction highlights the contrasting views on eschatology, the part of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind.

Practical Applications

This verse can lead to reflections on the nature of marriage, familial responsibilities, and the afterlife.

It challenges believers to think about the implications of eternal life and how earthly institutions, such as marriage, fit into the concept of heaven.

It also serves to reinforce the idea that earthly social arrangements might not hold the same relevance in the afterlife, prompting individuals to focus on the spiritual aspects of their relationships.

Cross-References

• Deuteronomy 25:5-6: "[...] 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."
• Matthew 22:23-30: "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him [...]"
• Mark 12:18-27: "[...] 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."

Language Study

• "Master" (Greek: διδάσκαλος, didaskalos) generally means a teacher or instructor.
• "Brother" (Greek: ἀδελφός, adelphos) in this context refers to a male sibling.
• "Die" (Greek: ἀποθάνῃ, apothanē) is used here in the sense of the physical death.
• "Wife" (Greek: γυνή, gunē) refers to a woman who is married.
• "Raise up seed" (Greek: ἐξαναστήσει σπέρμα, exanastēsei sperma) refers to the establishment of progeny, to preserve the deceased brother's name and lineage.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The practice of levirate marriage was not unique to ancient Israel; similar practices can be found in various other cultures.

For instance, in ancient Babylon, the Code of Hammurabi also mentions the duty of a man to marry his brother's widow.

This type of marriage served economic and social functions including providing an heir and ensuring the welfare of the widow in patriarchal societies.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific viewpoint, the practice of levirate marriage raises various issues, such as genetic diversity and family dynamics.

However, in the scientific community, questions of an afterlife or resurrection are generally considered beyond the scope of empirical investigation, as they pertain to beliefs and faith rather than measurable phenomena.

Commentaries

Commentators and biblical scholars have provided diverse interpretations of Luke 20:28.

Some focus on the legalistic aspect of the Sadducees' question, considering the implications of levirate marriage in Jesus' time. Others highlight how Jesus uses the occasion to teach about the nature of resurrection life, where earthly relationships are transformed.

Most commentators agree that the primary point of Jesus' response, which follows in the subsequent verses, is to affirm the resurrection and to portray God not as God of the dead, but as God of the living.