Matthew 22:23-33 Meaning: God of the Living
23On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
26In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
27After them all, the woman died.
28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
33When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
23The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27And last of all the woman died also.
28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
23On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him,
24saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;
26in like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27And after them all, the woman died.
28In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.
31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
23In that day there came near to him Sadducees, who are saying there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying,
24`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.
25`And there were with us seven brothers, and the first having married did die, and not having seed, he left his wife to his brother;
26in like manner also the second, and the third, unto the seventh,
27and last of all died also the woman;
28therefore in the rising again, of which of the seven shall she be wife--for all had her?'
29And Jesus answering said to them, `Ye go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God;
30for in the rising again they do not marry, nor are they given in marriage, but are as messengers of God in heaven.
31`And concerning the rising again of the dead, did ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not a God of dead men, but of living.'
33And having heard, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching;
23On that day came to him Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they demanded of him,
24saying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one die, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife and shall raise up seed to his brother.
25Now there were with us seven brethren; and the first having married died, and not having seed, left his wife to his brother.
26In like manner also the second and the third, unto the seven.
27And last of all the woman also died.
28In the resurrection therefore of which of the seven shall she be wife, for all had her?
29And Jesus answering said to them, Ye err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as angels of God in heaven.
31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?God is not God of [the] dead, but of [the] living.
33And when the crowds heard [it] they were astonished at his doctrine.
Meaning in one sentence
When Sadducees questioned Jesus about marriage in the resurrection, He used Scripture to show that God is the God of the living, not the dead.
Context
This conversation takes place on a day of heavy debate in Jerusalem, right after Jesus answered the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar. Now the Sadducees step forward. They were a powerful group among Jewish leaders, known for rejecting belief in any resurrection, angels, or spirits. They held only the first five books of Moses as Scripture. In their view, a life beyond death made no sense. So they craft a story about a woman who marries seven brothers in turn, each dying childless. Their question is meant to make the resurrection look absurd. But Jesus does not let their trap stand.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight here. First, the word translated ‘resurrection’ is anastasis, which means a standing up again, a raising from the dead. The Sadducees denied any such thing could happen. Second, Jesus says they do not know the ‘power’ of God, dunamis. This is not just strength but the active ability to do what seems impossible. God’s dunamis can restore life and create a new order beyond our imagining. Third, Jesus says they ‘err’, the verb planaō means to wander off the path, like a sheep gone astray. Their mistake was not small, it came from refusing to let Scripture and God’s ability shape their thinking. These words together remind us that the resurrection is not a puzzle to solve but a promise to trust.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, commentators agree that Jesus meets the Sadducees on their own ground. Reformers like Calvin note that error begins with ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power. Matthew Henry, writing as a Presbyterian, observes that the Sadducees’ question reduces the resurrection to a replay of earthly life. Anglican scholars in the Cambridge Bible point out that Jesus appeals to a passage from the Pentateuch because the Sadducees accepted only Moses’ books. By quoting Exodus 3:6, where God calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, long after their deaths, Jesus shows that the patriarchs are still alive in God’s presence. Both Protestant and Catholic commentators emphasize that the resurrection is not a return to this world but a transformed life with God.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading of this passage is that Jesus says we become angels in heaven. In fact, Jesus says those who are raised will be ‘like God’s angels’ in that they do not marry, but they remain human, fully themselves. The likeness is about the kind of existence, free from death and the need to reproduce, not a change in identity. The resurrection does not erase who we are.
Living This Out
This week, you might catch yourself trying to picture heaven by extending the best parts of life here, favorite people, happy memories, good food. That is natural, but this passage invites you to trust God for something bigger than you can imagine. You do not need to figure out how relationships will work or what you will do. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will remake your body and your life into something you cannot foresee now. Let the Sadducees’ mistake be a quiet warning: do not let your assumptions close the door on what God can do. Instead, let your hope rest on the God who calls Himself yours, even now, even in death.
Main takeaway: Because God is the God of the living, those who belong to Him are alive with Him forever, even now in His sight.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God is so strong that He can make dead people live again. In heaven we will be happy with God, and we won't need to get married because everyone will be alive forever.
For ages 9, 12
Some people tried to trick Jesus by asking a confusing question about marriage after the resurrection. Jesus answered by showing that God’s power is bigger than our questions. He said that in heaven we will be like angels, not because we become angels, but because we will live forever without needing to get married. And He quoted a verse from Moses to prove that God still calls Abraham his friend, even though Abraham died long ago. That means God keeps his people alive with him.
Questions People Ask
Why did the Sadducees not believe in the resurrection?
The Sadducees were a Jewish group that accepted only the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) as authoritative. They did not find a clear statement about resurrection in those books, so they rejected the idea. They also denied the existence of angels and spirits, holding a more materialist view of life.
What does Jesus mean when He says we will be like angels in the resurrection?
Jesus does not mean we become angels. He says we will be 'like God's angels' in that we will not marry or die. Angels do not need marriage to continue their existence, and in the resurrection, our bodies will be transformed so that death is no longer possible. Our core identity as human persons remains.
How does quoting 'I am the God of Abraham' prove the resurrection?
Jesus quotes Exodus 3:6, where God speaks to Moses from the burning bush. At that time, Abraham had been dead for over 300 years. Yet God says 'I am the God of Abraham' in the present tense, not 'I was.' Jesus argues that God is not the God of the dead but of the living, so Abraham must still be alive with God, implying a resurrection.
Is there marriage in heaven?
Jesus says directly that in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage. Marriage is a good gift for this present age, where people die and need to form new families. In the resurrection, death is gone, and our relationships are transformed into something deeper, centered fully on God.
What does this passage teach about God's power?
Jesus says the Sadducees err because they do not know 'the power of God.' The Greek word 'dunamis' means active, miracle-working ability. God's power is not limited by what we think possible. He can raise the dead, create a new kind of existence, and sustain relationships beyond death. Our trust belongs in that power, not in human reasoning alone.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study