But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

MATTHEW 22:31KJV
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Matthew 22:31 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:31 mean?

Matthew 22:31 shows Jesus responding to a question about resurrection by pointing his listeners back to what God had already said in Scripture. Jesus challenges them for not recognizing what God had spoken about the resurrection of the dead.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Sadducees, a group of Jewish leaders who denied that there would be a resurrection. The conversation happens in the temple, where the Sadducees had tried to trap Jesus with a question about life after death. Jesus refers to what God said in the Scriptures, highlighting that the answer to their question was already given by God himself.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:31

  • ἀνάστασις (anastasis, G386): This word means "resurrection," specifically the rising up of the dead. Jesus uses it to focus the discussion on life after death, which was a key point of disagreement with the Sadducees.
  • θεός (theos, G2316): This is the Greek word for "God." Jesus emphasizes that the statement about resurrection comes directly from God, not just human tradition or interpretation.
  • ἐρρέθη (errethe, G4483): This word means "spoken." Jesus stresses that God himself has spoken these words, giving them authority and weight in the debate.

Why Matthew 22:31 matters

  • Matthew 22:31 corrects the idea that the resurrection is a new or obscure teaching by showing it is rooted in what God already revealed in Scripture.
  • The verse highlights Jesus’ method of answering questions by appealing directly to the authority of God’s word, not just human reasoning.
  • This moment sets up Jesus’ explanation that God’s relationship with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) implies ongoing life, which he will clarify in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“spoken” Greek G4483 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
  • Matthew 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
  • Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,(whoso readeth, let him understand:)

“ye” Greek G314 · used in 30 verses

  • Matthew 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
  • Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not,(let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
  • Acts 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

“resurrection” Greek G386 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
  • John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
  • Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

“dead” Greek G3498 · used in 123 verses

  • Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
  • Acts 4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: