For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
MATTHEW 22:30KJVWhat does Matthew 22:30 mean?
Matthew 22:30 says that in the resurrection, people will not marry or be given in marriage, but will be like the angels of God in heaven. This means that after being raised from the dead, human relationships will be different from earthly life, and marriage as we know it will not continue.
Jesus is speaking to the Sadducees, a group that denied the resurrection, during a debate in the Temple. They had asked a question about marriage after death to challenge the idea of resurrection. Jesus responds by explaining that resurrected life is not just a continuation of earthly customs; instead, people will exist in a new way, similar to angels, who do not marry.
The Greek behind Matthew 22:30
- ἀναστάσει (anastasei, "resurrection"): This word refers to being raised to life after death. Jesus uses it to describe a future state where normal earthly patterns no longer apply.
- γαμοῦσιν (gamousin, "marry") and ἐκγαμίζονται (ekgamizontai, "are given in marriage"): These words highlight both sides of marriage—actively marrying and being given in marriage—showing that neither will happen after the resurrection.
- ὡς (hōs, "as/like"): This word draws a comparison between resurrected people and angels, emphasizing a different kind of existence rather than saying people become angels.
Why Matthew 22:30 matters
- Matthew 22:30 clears up the misunderstanding that earthly relationships, especially marriage, will continue unchanged after the resurrection.
- The verse emphasizes that resurrection life is fundamentally different from earthly life, challenging assumptions about continuity between the two.
- By comparing resurrected people to angels, Jesus shifts the focus from earthly concerns to the transformed nature of life with God, which is a key point in his debate with the Sadducees.