What does Matthew 22:27 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 22:27, "And last of all the woman died also," is part of a passage in which Jesus is responding to a question posed by the Sadducees, a religious sect that did not believe in the resurrection.

The Sadducees present Jesus with a hypothetical scenario about a woman who married seven brothers in turn, each one dying without leaving children, and then the woman herself dies.

They ask whose wife she will be in the resurrection since all seven had her as a wife.

This verse serves as the conclusion to their scenario, setting the stage for Jesus' explanation about life after death and the resurrection.

Its literal meaning is simple, stating the fact of the woman’s death.

The deeper significance, which Jesus will elaborate on, lies in the question of marital relationships in the afterlife and the nature of the resurrection itself.

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the Sadducees and Pharisees were two leading Jewish sects with differing beliefs.

The Sadducees were known for their denial of the resurrection, angelic beings, and spirits, which was contrary to the beliefs of the Pharisees and the emerging Christian doctrine.

The question posed to Jesus about the woman and the seven brothers is based on the Jewish leverite marriage law found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

If a married man died without heirs, his brother was to marry the widow to produce offspring who would carry on the deceased brother's name.

The Sadducees use this law to create a complex scenario aimed to trap Jesus into an answer that would discredit the idea of the resurrection.

Theological Insights

From a Christian Theological Perspective, Jesus’ eventual response is meant to clarify the nature of the resurrection: that earthly institutions, including marriage, do not apply in the same way after death.

This affirms the belief in an afterlife that is different from the current worldly experience.

From a Jewish Perspective, particularly that of the Sadducees during Jesus' time, the question raised was meant to challenge the concept of resurrection since such a scenario would create a seemingly unsolvable problem in the afterlife, thus disproving the concept.

Modern Theological Debate often still contemplates the nature of relationships and identity in the afterlife, with various Christian denominations holding different views on what life will be like in the resurrected state.

Practical Applications

This verse can encourage individuals to consider the impermanent nature of earthly relationships and institutions compared to eternal truths.

In practical daily life, it calls for believers to prioritize spiritual over material concerns and to live in a way that prepares for the life to come, rather than being overly preoccupied with current societal constructs.

Cross-References

• Mark 12:22: "And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also."
• Luke 20:32: "Last of all the woman died also."
• Deuteronomy 25:5-6: "If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: 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."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "died" is "ἀπέθανεν" (apethanen), which is the third person singular aorist active indicative of "ἀποθνῄσκω" (apothnēskō), meaning to die or pass away.

This verb is used consistently to refer to physical death throughout the New Testament.

The language is straightforward and factual, emphasizing the finality of the woman's death.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this verse to other ancient cultures, one might consider the ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife, where marital status and relationships had significance in one's journey through the underworld.

Similarly, the Greeks had their own complex mythology regarding the afterlife, as seen in tales like those of Orpheus and Eurydice.

However, the uniqueness of the Jewish-Christian perspective lies in the emphasis on a physical resurrection and the continuance of personal identity rather than a generic or shadowy afterlife.

Scientific Perspectives

The discourse in which the verse appears does not lend itself easily to scientific analysis since it relates to beliefs about the afterlife, a concept that falls outside the scope of scientific inquiry.

Resurrection and eternal life are matters of faith, and current scientific methods cannot validate nor refute such religious and metaphysical claims.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this passage:

• William Barclay notes that the intention of the Sadducees was to ridicule the idea of resurrection by presenting a situation that was absurd in their eyes.
• John Calvin emphasizes the sovereignty and power of God in his ability to raise the dead and transform the mortal state into one suited for eternal life.
• **Craig S.

Keener**, in his commentary, suggests that by addressing the Sadducees' question, Jesus refutes their denial of the resurrection through a profound theological clarification of the nature of life after death.

These commentaries reflect the range of interpretations and applications that this verse and its surrounding passage have inspired within Christian thought.