What does Matthew 22:32 mean?

Explanation

This verse, found in the Gospel of Matthew, records a moment when Jesus is addressing the Sadducees, a Jewish sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

They had presented Him with a hypothetical scenario about marriage in the resurrection to trap him.

Jesus responds by quoting God's words to Moses at the burning bush, where God declares Himself to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Jesus uses this declaration to argue that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, implying that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive to God, even at the time of Moses, centuries after their physical deaths.

Thus, Jesus refutes the Sadducees' disbelief in resurrection, affirming that life extends beyond physical death.

Historical Context

Matthew 22:32 is situated within a series of challenges from different religious and political groups of Jesus' time, who are testing Him with difficult questions.

The Sadducees, who only accepted the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) as authoritative and did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits, are attempting to discredit Jesus' teachings on the resurrection.

When they ask Him about whose wife a woman would be in the resurrection, having been married to seven brothers (the Levirate marriage law), Jesus counters their question by discussing the nature of God and the life hereafter.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints interpret this passage in various ways:

• Conservative Christianity: Generally takes this verse at face value, asserting the reality of life after death and the continuation of our relationship with God.

• Liberal Christianity: May focus on the metaphorical or spiritual implications, such as the eternal relevance of God's covenant with His people, not necessarily asserting a literal resurrection.

• Judaism: While this passage is from the Christian New Testament and not part of Jewish scripture, Rabbinic Judaism does believe in the resurrection of the dead, which is one of Maimonides' thirteen principles of faith.

• Skepticism: Secular scholars might see this exchange as part of a broader narrative constructed by the early Christian community to address doctrinal disputes.

Practical Applications

The verse reminds believers of the hope of resurrection and encourages them to live their lives with the perspective of eternity.

It also teaches that one's relationship with God transcends death, providing comfort in bereavement.

For nonbelievers or those of other faiths, it can be a point of reflection on the nature of life, death, and what may or may not lie beyond.

Cross-References

• Exodus 3:6: Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

• Mark 12:26-27: And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

• Luke 20:37-38: Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek from this verse include:

• Theos (Θεός): Generally translated as "God," this term is used in numerous contexts for deities or divinity.

• Dead (νεκρός): In Greek, "nekros" can mean both physically dead or metaphorically lifeless.

• Living (ζῶν): The term used here, "zōn," refers to something that is alive or full of life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, gods were often associated with the dead, such as Osiris in Egyptian mythology, who was the lord of the underworld.

In contrast, this verse emphasizes that the God of the Hebrew Bible is not just a deity of the dead but is intimately connected with the living, a point of distinction from other ancient religious beliefs.

Scientific Perspectives

The debate about life after death moves beyond the realm of observable and testable science; thus, from a strict scientific perspective, there is no empirical evidence for or against such beliefs as resurrection.

However, scientific disciplines such as neuroscience and psychology continue to explore consciousness and what happens at the point of death.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer interpretations of this verse:

• William Barclay: Asserts that Jesus is teaching God is permanently the God of the individual and that there is life beyond this physical one.

• **Craig S.

Keener**: Suggests that Jesus is confronting the Sadducees' disbelief in the resurrection by pointing out that God has a relationship with people who have already died, which wouldn't be meaningful if they were simply extinguished.

• N.T. Wright: Argues that Jesus' teaching on the resurrection challenges the contemporary understanding of life and death at the time and redefines the future hope for God's people.