What does Luke 20:31 mean?

Explanation

Luke 20:31 refers to a hypothetical scenario presented to Jesus by Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection.

In this scenario, a woman marries a man who dies without leaving children.

According to the Law of Moses and the custom of Levirate marriage, the man's brother is then supposed to marry the widow to produce offspring for his deceased brother.

However, in this story, the woman ends up marrying all seven brothers, one after another, as each brother dies without producing children with her.

The Sadducees' question that follows this scenario (Luke 20:33) intends to challenge Jesus by asking whose wife the woman would be in the resurrection since she was married to all seven brothers.

The literal meaning of the verse is simply recounting the events of the hypothetical situation as presented by the Sadducees.

At a deeper level, the verse is a part of a larger conversation about life after death and the resurrection, a concept that was highly debated among various Jewish sects of the time.

Jesus uses their question to teach about the nature of the resurrection and life in the age to come.

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, there were several factions within Judaism that had different beliefs regarding the afterlife. The Sadducees, a sect primarily made up of the priestly and aristocratic classes, rejected the idea of resurrection and the existence of spirits.

In contrast, the Pharisees, another influential group, accepted both.

The concept of Levirate marriage, mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:5-10, was an established custom where a man was obligated to marry his brother's widow if the brother died without a male heir.

Luke 20:31 is set within this backdrop of theological debate and reflects the Sadducees' attempt to draw Jesus into an argument that could discredit him in the eyes of the public or trap him in a theological error.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse, as part of the narrative, illustrates Jesus' affirmation of the resurrection, contrasting with the Sadducees' denial.

Jesus responds in Luke 20:34-36, explaining that those who attain to that age and the resurrection will neither marry nor be given in marriage, essentially stating that earthly relationships and laws will not apply in the resurrection.

The passage does not directly provide a doctrine of the afterlife but does indicate that life after resurrection will be different from life as we know it on earth. The implication is that earthly concerns, such as marital status and familial ties, are transient and will be transformed.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied in daily life by reminding believers of the transient nature of earthly concerns and relationships. It underlines the importance of focusing on faith and understanding the eternal implications of one's beliefs rather than being overly concerned with temporal matters.

The teaching in the context of this verse can be used to comfort those who have lost loved ones, suggesting that earthly separation is not the end and that relationships will be different, and indeed sacred, in the afterlife as God intends.

Cross-References

• Deuteronomy 25:5-10 - The law of Levirate marriage, which provides the foundational custom referred to in Luke 20:29-31.
• Matthew 22:23-32 - A parallel account of the Sadducees questioning Jesus about the resurrection.
• Mark 12:18-27 - Another parallel account where Jesus discusses the resurrection with the Sadducees.
• 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 - Paul's teachings about the resurrection body and the differences from the earthly body.

Language Study

A critical word in this verse is "children" (Greek: τέκνα, "tekna"), meaning offspring or descendants.

The concern for producing children, especially sons, was significant in Jewish culture as it carried on the family name and inheritance.

In the Greek text, the repetitive deaths of the brothers and the lack of children (tekna) emphasize the hopeless case presented by the Sadducees to challenge the concept of the resurrection.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of Levirate marriage in Judaism has parallels in other ancient cultures.

In ancient Mesopotamia, for instance, similar customs were practiced to ensure lineage and property rights.

However, the Sadducees' challenge using this custom is unique to the Jewish religious context during the Second Temple period as it relates to debates about the afterlife, which were not necessarily present in other cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of life and death generally do not support the concept of an afterlife or resurrection as described in religious texts.

Science focuses on empirical evidence and the observable universe, while concepts like resurrection are matters of faith and belief beyond the scope of scientific inquiry.

The discussion in Luke 20:27-40 is therefore typically viewed within a religious, philosophical, or metaphysical framework rather than a scientific one.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Luke 20:31 and its surrounding passages.

Some focus on the verse as evidence of Jesus' authoritative teaching on the afterlife, noting how he redirects the conversation from the trap set by the Sadducees to a profound teaching moment about the nature of resurrection life.

Others highlight Jesus’ respect for the Torah in his response, even as he corrects the Sadducees' understanding.

Commentators also point out the literary structure of the passage, where the question serves as a contrast to Jesus’ revelation about the coming age, emphasizing the discontinuity between this life and the life to come.

They note that Jesus' response to the Sadducees' challenge is not just a refutation of their disbelief in the resurrection but also a revelation of the radically different nature of eternal life.