Bible Strands
Matthew 22:24
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Sadducees address Jesus as “Teacher” to present a hypothetical scenario drawn from Mosaic law. They pose this question on the same day they previously denied the resurrection to test His teaching on the subject.
The words — διδασκάλε (didaskale) literally means Teacher, the title the Sadducees use to address Jesus. Μωϋσῆς (Mōusēs) identifies Moses as the one who declared the law regarding a man who dies without children.
The thread — The levirate marriage rule appears in Deuteronomy 25:5 and is recounted in Luke 20:28. The practice also surfaces in Ruth 1:11 when Naomi questions whether her womb can produce sons for her daughters-in-law.
Why it lands — The text states a specific legal provision without resolving the resurrection question it raises. A reader must distinguish between the historical marriage law the Sadducees cite and the theological issue they intend to provoke.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 25:5 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.
- Luke 20:28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
- Ruth 1:11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
- Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
- Mark 12:19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
- Genesis 38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
- Genesis 38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.
- Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”
- Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?