Luke 20:33 – “Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
Extended Explanation
In this verse, the Sadducees finally ask their question, which they think will expose the supposed foolishness of the belief in the resurrection. After describing how seven brothers each married the same woman and died childless, they ask Jesus to solve what they see as an impossible dilemma: In the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be? They assume that if there is life after death, earthly relationships—such as marriage—will continue in the same way, creating confusion and contradictions.
Their question is meant to show that the idea of resurrection is impractical and ridiculous. But their reasoning is based on a misunderstanding of God’s power and the nature of eternal life. Jesus will later explain that in the resurrection, earthly concerns like marriage no longer apply (Luke 20:34-36).
Historical Context
The Sadducees were a religious group in Israel who rejected the resurrection of the dead, as well as the existence of angels and spirits (Acts 23:8). They held significant power in the temple and were aligned with the wealthy elite and Roman authorities. Unlike the Pharisees, who believed in life after death and relied on both the Torah and oral traditions, the Sadducees considered only the first five books of the Old Testament to be authoritative. Because the Torah does not explicitly mention resurrection, they rejected the concept entirely.
Marriage, family, and inheritance were central to Jewish culture, and the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) was designed to preserve family lines. The Sadducees use this law in their question to Jesus, thinking they can show that belief in the resurrection leads to contradictions in family and marriage obligations.
Theological Implications
This verse highlights a key theological issue: the difference between earthly life and the life to come. The Sadducees made the mistake of assuming that eternal life would be a continuation of earthly concerns, but Jesus reveals that the resurrection involves a completely different reality. In the resurrection, believers will experience a transformed existence where earthly institutions like marriage are no longer necessary.
Theologically, this passage teaches that eternal life is not about restoring or continuing what we had on earth. Instead, it is about being fully united with God and experiencing the fullness of His presence. The Sadducees’ question reflects a human-centered view of the afterlife, but Jesus’ answer points to a God-centered vision of eternal life, where our relationship with Him is what matters most.
Literary Analysis
The Sadducees carefully craft their question to seem unanswerable, using the repetition of seven marriages and the childless widow to emphasize the complexity of the scenario. The question is designed to trap Jesus by making the idea of resurrection seem absurd and illogical.
Luke’s narrative builds tension by allowing the Sadducees to present their full case before Jesus responds. The simplicity of their final question (“whose wife will she be?”) contrasts with the depth of Jesus’ eventual answer, highlighting their misunderstanding of eternal life. Their question assumes that earthly relationships define eternal life, but Jesus will show that the resurrection involves a completely new reality.
Biblical Cross-References
- Deuteronomy 25:5-6 – The law of levirate marriage, which the Sadducees reference to build their question.
- Isaiah 26:19 – A prophecy about the resurrection, affirming that God will raise the dead to new life.
- Matthew 22:30 – Jesus explains that in the resurrection, people will not marry but will be like the angels in heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – Paul describes the resurrection body as imperishable and spiritual, emphasizing the transformation that occurs in eternal life.
- Revelation 21:4 – A description of the new creation, where earthly concerns like pain and death no longer exist.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For Christians today, this verse is a reminder to focus on the eternal rather than being overly attached to earthly concerns. While marriage and family are important in this life, they are temporary. In the resurrection, believers will experience something far greater—complete union with God and a transformed existence beyond human limitations.
This verse also challenges believers to trust in God’s power and promises, even when we don’t fully understand them. Just as the Sadducees couldn’t grasp the nature of the resurrection, we may sometimes struggle to understand God’s plans for the future. But faith calls us to trust that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
God’s love is revealed in His plan for the resurrection and eternal life. The Sadducees viewed life through the lens of temporary, earthly relationships, but God’s love extends beyond this life and offers us eternal joy and peace in His presence. He created marriage as a good and meaningful part of life on earth, but His ultimate plan is for believers to experience something even greater—an eternal relationship with Him.
God’s love is also patient. Even when the Sadducees approached Jesus with skepticism and wrong motives, He answered them with truth and grace. This reflects God’s desire for all people to come to know the truth and experience His salvation (1 Timothy 2:4).
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse points to Jesus as the key to the resurrection and eternal life. The Sadducees thought they could trap Jesus with their question, but they didn’t realize they were speaking to the very person who would conquer death and make the resurrection possible. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin and death, securing eternal life for all who believe in Him (John 11:25-26).
Jesus’ resurrection is the foundation of the Christian hope. The Sadducees were focused on earthly concerns, but Jesus reveals that eternal life is about something much greater—being part of God’s family through faith in Christ and sharing in His victory over death.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Why did the Sadducees assume that earthly relationships like marriage would continue in the resurrection?
- How does Jesus’ teaching on the resurrection challenge the way you think about eternal life?
- Are there areas in your life where you are holding on too tightly to temporary, earthly things instead of focusing on God’s eternal promises?
- How does the promise of resurrection give you hope, especially in the face of loss or uncertainty?
- What does this passage teach you about trusting God’s power, even when His plans go beyond what you can understand?