Meaning of Luke 20:28

This verse from Luke 20:28 records a question posed to Jesus by the Sadducees, a Jewish sect primarily concerned with the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses) and who, notably, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Their question is a deliberate attempt to corner Jesus, using a specific Mosaic law to challenge the very notion of resurrection. They present a hypothetical scenario involving the levirate marriage law, where a brother is obligated to marry his deceased brother's childless widow to continue the deceased brother's lineage. The Sadducees then outline a complex, multi-generational situation where seven brothers, one after another, die while married to the same woman, all without having children. Their pointed question is: "At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?" This scenario is designed to highlight what they perceived as the absurdity and practical difficulties of a resurrected existence if it were to involve earthly marital relationships, thereby aiming to discredit Jesus' teachings on the afterlife and the resurrection.

Context and Background

The Sadducees' question is rooted in the Mosaic Law, specifically Deuteronomy 25:5-6. This passage outlines the yibbum (levirate marriage) obligation, a legal and social practice intended to prevent a family line from dying out and to provide for a widow. The primary purposes of this law were:

• Perpetuating a Name and Lineage: To ensure the deceased brother’s name and inheritance were not extinguished.
• Providing for the Widow: To offer economic and social security to a woman who would otherwise be vulnerable.
• Maintaining Inheritance: To keep property within the original family unit.

The Sadducees, in their theological stance, rejected any oral traditions or interpretations of the Law that were not explicitly found in the Torah. Their skepticism about the resurrection meant they could not find explicit textual support for it within the Pentateuch, which they considered the only authoritative scripture. This specific law, with its emphasis on earthly lineage and family continuation, provided them with what they thought was a foolproof argument against the resurrection.

Key Themes and Messages

The central themes in this exchange are:

• The Nature of the Resurrection: The Sadducees envision resurrection as a mere continuation of earthly life, with all its earthly complications, including marriage. Jesus, however, presents a radically different understanding.
• The Sovereignty of God: Jesus’ response emphasizes that the resurrection is a reality ordained and brought about by God, a divine act that transcends human understanding and earthly limitations.
• The Authority of Scripture: While the Sadducees used a specific passage from Moses to refute Jesus, Jesus himself will later use the Pentateuch to affirm the resurrection, demonstrating his superior understanding and interpretation of God's Word.
• Misunderstanding of Spiritual Realities: The Sadducees’ error lies in applying the laws and customs of the present physical world to the future spiritual realm.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This passage offers profound insights into our understanding of eternity and the spiritual life. It teaches us that:

• Heavenly Existence is Different: The resurrection state is not simply an extension of our current earthly existence. Our relationships and the structures of our lives will be transformed.
• Focus on God: In the resurrection, the primary relationship will be with God. Jesus states, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:34-36). This points to a spiritual communion and fulfillment that surpasses earthly bonds.
• Resurrection is a Certainty: Jesus’ confidence in his answer, drawing from the authority of Moses, affirms the reality of the resurrection. This is a cornerstone of Christian faith, offering hope beyond death.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This encounter with the Sadducees is part of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, a period of intense theological debate and confrontation as he asserts his authority and prepares for his crucifixion and resurrection. His refutation of the Sadducees directly supports the overarching biblical narrative of God's redemptive plan, which culminates in the resurrection of believers, offering them eternal life in a transformed state. The levirate law itself, while specific to ancient Israelite society, reflects a broader biblical concern for continuity, legacy, and provision for the vulnerable, themes that are ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Analogies

To understand the difference between earthly and resurrection life, consider these analogies:

• Caterpillar to Butterfly: A caterpillar lives a limited, crawling existence. When it enters the chrysalis, it undergoes a radical transformation. The resulting butterfly lives in a completely different realm, with new abilities and a new form of existence, no longer bound by the limitations of its former life. Similarly, resurrection is a transformation.
• Seed to Plant: A seed, buried in the ground, appears to die. However, it undergoes a process of decay and rebirth, emerging as a new, living plant with a form and function far beyond that of the original seed. This illustrates the death and resurrection principle, where a new, glorious life emerges from what appears to be an end.

Relation to Other Verses

This passage is intrinsically linked to several other key biblical texts:

• Deuteronomy 25:5-6: The direct source of the law the Sadducees cite. Jesus’ response shows he understands and can interpret this law in light of God’s ultimate purposes.
• Exodus 3:6: Jesus’ argument for the resurrection is famously drawn from this verse: "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." He argues that since God calls himself the God of these patriarchs long after they had died, they must still be alive in some sense, implying a resurrection. This is a crucial argument found in Luke 20:37-38 and Matthew 22:31-32.
• 1 Corinthians 15: This chapter is the New Testament's most extensive treatment of the resurrection. Paul addresses the nature of the resurrected body, stating it is "sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). This aligns perfectly with Jesus' teaching that resurrection life is fundamentally different from earthly life.
• Matthew 22:30 & Mark 12:25: Parallel accounts of this same encounter, reinforcing the importance of Jesus' response to the Sadducees' challenge.