Matthew 22:27 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:27 mean?

Matthew 22:27 states that after all the men in the story had died, the woman also died last. This verse is part of a scenario being described, where the sequence of deaths is important to the point being made.

In this verse, Jesus is responding to a question from the Sadducees, a group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in resurrection. They present a hypothetical situation about a woman who marries seven brothers in succession, each dying without leaving children. Matthew 22:27 marks the end of their story, emphasizing that the woman herself eventually died after all the brothers, setting up their question about resurrection and marriage in the afterlife.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:27

• "last" (ἔσχατος, eschatos): This word means "last" or "final," highlighting that the woman was the final person to die in the sequence. It draws attention to the order of events, which is central to the Sadducees' challenge.
• "also" (καί, kai): This word means "also" or "even," showing that the woman, like the brothers before her, died as well. It connects her fate directly to theirs, reinforcing the completeness of the scenario.

Why Matthew 22:27 matters

• This verse sets up the Sadducees' question about whose wife the woman will be in the resurrection, making the sequence of deaths crucial to their argument.
• By stating that the woman died last, Matthew 22:27 emphasizes the completeness and finality of the situation, which the Sadducees use to challenge the idea of resurrection.
• Understanding this verse helps clarify the context of Jesus’ teaching that follows, where he addresses misunderstandings about life after death.