Devine Scripture

Matthew 22:24

What does Matthew 22:24 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 22:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 22:24 means

The Sadducees begin by referencing the Mosaic Law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6), where if a man died childless, his brother was to marry the widow to raise up an heir for the deceased brother. They invoke Moses as their authority, believing that this law provided the perfect hypothetical scenario to expose the supposed absurdity of the resurrection. By grounding their question in scripture, they attempt to lend their argument an air of biblical legitimacy, assuming Jesus would be trapped by the perceived contradiction.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Master, Moses said, If a man, at the time of his death, has no children, let his brother take his wife, and get a family for his brother;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Teacher, Moses said, If any one may die not having children, his brother shall marry his wife, and shall raise up seed to his brother.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Saying: Master, Moses said: If a man die having no son, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up issue to his brother.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

saying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one die, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife and shall raise up seed to his brother.

Context

This verse explains the specific Mosaic Law the Sadducees will use as the basis for their trap question. By citing this law of levirate marriage, they are attempting to create a biblical paradox that they believe will demonstrate the impossibility of the resurrection. This legalistic setup is crucial for understanding the nature of their challenge to Jesus in the verses that follow.

v.23On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him,

v.24This passage

v.25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 22:36

    Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?

  • Mark 12:19

    Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • Luke 6:46

    And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

  • Luke 20:28

    and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • Ruth 1:11

    And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

  • Matthew 7:21

    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

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