Matthew 22:28 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:28 mean?

Matthew 22:28 describes a question posed to Jesus about whose wife a woman will be in the resurrection, since she was married to seven brothers in succession, each of whom died. The question is meant to challenge the idea of resurrection by raising a complicated scenario about marriage after death.

In this verse, some religious leaders called the Sadducees are speaking to Jesus in front of a crowd. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, so they present a hypothetical situation based on the law of Moses, where a woman marries several brothers one after another because each one dies. Their question is not sincere curiosity but an attempt to show that belief in resurrection leads to confusing or impossible situations.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:28

• ἀνάστασις (anastasis, "resurrection"): This word refers to being raised from the dead. The Sadducees use it to challenge Jesus about life after death, a belief they reject.
• γυνή (gynē, "wife"): The Greek word here means "woman" or "wife." The focus on whose "wife" she will be highlights the legal and relational confusion the Sadducees are trying to create.
• πάντες (pantes, "all"): This word means "all" or "every." The Sadducees stress that all seven brothers had her as a wife, making the scenario seem even more impossible.

Why Matthew 22:28 matters

• Matthew 22:28 shows how the Sadducees tried to use a legal puzzle to discredit the idea of resurrection, revealing their skepticism and the kinds of arguments used in religious debates of the time.
• The verse sets up Jesus’ response, which clarifies the nature of resurrection and corrects misunderstandings about life after death.
• This question also highlights the differences between various Jewish groups in Jesus’ day, especially regarding beliefs about the afterlife.