What does Mark 12:23 mean?

Explanation

Mark 12:23 poses a question about marriage in the resurrection.

This verse is part of a conversation between Jesus and a group of Sadducees, religious leaders who denied the resurrection of the dead.

In their attempt to challenge Jesus, they propose a hypothetical situation where a woman marries seven brothers in succession, following the levirate marriage law from Deuteronomy 25:5-10, which requires a man to marry his deceased brother's widow if he dies childless.

They ask Jesus whose wife the woman will be in the resurrection since she was married to all seven brothers.

The underlying question here is about the nature of relationships after death and the validity of the resurrection.

Historical Context

This conversation takes place in Jerusalem during the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry, shortly before his crucifixion.

The Sadducees were one of the major religious sects in Judaism, alongside the Pharisees and Essenes.

Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits.

Their theology focused on the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, and they rejected the oral traditions and writings that the Pharisees valued.

The Sadducees' denial of the resurrection is what prompted them to pose this question to Jesus.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints offer varied understandings of Mark 12:23.

From a traditional Christian perspective, this verse sets the stage for Jesus to clarify the nature of eternal life and relationships in the resurrection.

The interrogation by the Sadducees serves as an occasion for Jesus to teach that earthly institutions, such as marriage, do not operate in the same way in the afterlife.

Liberal theologians might argue that the text reflects an evolving understanding of the afterlife within the Jewish tradition at the time of Jesus.

For the Sadducees, this verse might be seen as a logical argument against the concept of the resurrection, using the law of levirate marriage to demonstrate what they perceived as an absurdity in the Pharisaic doctrine of life after death.

Practical Applications

In the practical realm, Mark 12:23 encourages individuals to contemplate the nature of eternal life and the continuation of relationships beyond this world.

It invites believers to consider the temporality of earthly institutions compared to the eternal kingdom of God.

It also calls for an open mind to the transformative nature of resurrection life, which may differ greatly from our current experiences and expectations.

Cross-References

• Matthew 22:28-30: "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

• Luke 20:34-36: "And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."
• Deuteronomy 25:5-10: The levirate marriage law referenced by the Sadducees in their question to Jesus.

Language Study

The key words to study in the original Greek text of Mark 12:23 include:

• "Resurrection" (ἀνάστασις - anastasis): Literally means "raising up" or "standing up again," referring to the belief in life after death.
• "Wife" (γυνή - gynē): Can refer to a woman, wife, or female companion, depending on context.
• "Had to wife" (ἔγαμήσαντο - egamēsanto): A verb meaning "they married" or "were married to."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse opens up comparisons with other ancient cultural and religious notions of the afterlife.

For instance, the ancient Egyptians believed in a physical continuation of life after death, which is a stark contrast to the spiritual resurrection discussed in the New Testament.

In Greco-Roman mythology, the afterlife in Hades was different from earthly life but did not usually involve the concept of resurrection.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the question of life after death and the state of human relationships post-resurrection is unanswerable by empirical means.

Science focuses on observable and measurable phenomena, which does not include the supernatural or metaphysical concepts such as those described in this verse.

Therefore, discussions about the resurrection typically fall outside the scope of scientific inquiry.

Commentaries

Different biblical scholars and commentaries have various interpretations of Mark 12:23.

Many agree that the Sadducees' question was not a genuine inquiry but a trap to discredit Jesus.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that the Sadducees thought the concept of resurrection led to absurdities, while the Pulpit Commentary points out that Jesus' response redirects the focus from the legal technicalities of marriage to the nature of God’s power.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary elaborates on the mistaken worldly view of the Sadducees, emphasizing Jesus' teaching that heavenly life transcends earthly constraints.