What does Matthew 22:30 mean?

Explanation

This verse is part of a conversation Jesus is having with the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

They pose a question about a woman who was married multiple times due to the law of Levirate marriage, inquiring whose wife she would be in the resurrection.

Jesus responds by explaining that earthly institutions such as marriage do not apply in the afterlife.

Thus, in the resurrection, people do not marry as they do on earth but live like the angels in heaven, indicating a different mode of existence and relationship beyond death.

Historical Context

The Sadducees, a sect in Judaism during the Second Temple period, were questioning Jesus.

They were known to accept only the written Law of Moses and not the oral traditions, and they denied the resurrection of the dead, which was a point of contention with the Pharisees.

This particular discussion occurs during Jesus' teachings in Jerusalem shortly before his crucifixion.

The Levirate marriage law, referenced in the Sadducees' question, was designed to ensure the continuation of a deceased brother's line (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted differently depending on one’s doctrinal stance.

Some view it as a clear statement on the nature of life after resurrection, where earthly relationships are transformed.

Others see Jesus' response as a corrective to the Sadducees' limited understanding of both marriage and the resurrection.

The mention of angels suggests that the resurrected life transcends earthly needs and social structures.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse helps believers to adopt an eternal perspective, allowing them to focus less on temporary matters and more on their spiritual development and relationship with God.

It also provides comfort regarding concerns about earthly relationships after death, as it introduces the idea of a different existence in the afterlife that is not bound by current social structures.

Cross-References

• Mark 12:25: "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."
• Luke 20:35-36: "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 anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."
• 1 Corinthians 15:52: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
• Revelation 14:4: "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.

These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

Language Study

Significant words in the Greek text of Matthew 22:30 merit attention:

• "Resurrection" (Greek: "anastasis"): Literally "a standing up again," often used to refer to the rising from the dead.
• "Marry" (Greek: "gameo"): To take a wife or to get married.
• "Given in marriage" (Greek: "ekgameo"): To give a daughter away in marriage.
• "Angels" (Greek: "aggelos"): Messengers of God, celestial beings, suggesting spiritual existence.

These words together form the basis of Jesus' argument concerning the state of resurrected individuals, contrasting the earthly and heavenly existence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this teaching to other ancient beliefs, there were various views of the afterlife in Greco-Roman mythology, many involving a continued existence in Hades or Elysium.

The concept of angels as purely spiritual beings differs from the more physical portrayals of gods and the afterlife in these mythologies.

In Hinduism, marriage is considered sacred and eternal, with the concept of being together in the next life.

Jesus’ teaching challenges both the conventional Jewish belief of the time and other ancient views by presenting a wholly different spiritual state after death.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse brings into focus questions about consciousness and existence after death, topics for which science does not currently offer empirical evidence or explanations.

Discussions on near-death experiences or research into consciousness could potentially provide a context for discussing the spiritual beliefs stated in the verse, although scientific inquiry remains silent on matters of the afterlife and spiritual states.

Commentaries

Regarding Matthew 22:30, many biblical scholars and theologians offer varying opinions and interpretations.

Some emphasize the difference between earthly and heavenly existence, while others focus on the divine power and the nature of God’s kingdom as transcending human institutions.

Traditional commentaries often see this as an affirmation of the continuity of personal identity without the continuation of earthly roles and relationships.

Nearly all agree that Jesus used the opportunity to correct the Sadducees' misunderstanding of the resurrection.

Modern commentaries might delve into the implications for gender and relationality in the afterlife.