Matthew 22:25 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:25 mean?

Matthew 22:25 describes a situation where seven brothers lived together, and the first brother married a woman but died without having children, so his widow was left to his brother. This sets up a question about marriage and family responsibilities according to Jewish custom.

In this verse, the Sadducees are speaking to Jesus, presenting a scenario based on the law of levirate marriage, where a man’s brother is expected to marry the widow if the man dies childless. They use this example to challenge Jesus about the resurrection, since the Sadducees did not believe in life after death.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:25

• ἀδελφοί (adelphoi): This word means "brothers" and emphasizes that the men in the story are siblings, which is important for understanding the family duty being discussed.
• σπέρμα (sperma): Translated here as "issue," this word means "offspring" or "descendants." The focus is on the fact that the first brother died without children, which triggers the levirate marriage custom.
• γυνή (gynē): This is the word for "wife" or "woman," highlighting the role of the widow in this custom and the transfer of her marriage to the next brother.

Why Matthew 22:25 matters

• This verse helps clarify the Sadducees’ approach: they are not asking a genuine question but are setting up a test case to challenge Jesus’ teaching about resurrection.
• Understanding the custom of levirate marriage (where a brother marries the widow to produce children for the deceased) is key to following the logic of their question and Jesus’ eventual response.
• The verse sets the stage for a deeper discussion about life after death and the nature of relationships in the resurrection, which Jesus addresses in the following verses.