Matthew 22 29 Commentary

The passage in Matthew 22:29 is part of a larger narrative where Jesus is engaged in a series of debates and confrontations with the Pharisees and other religious leaders in Jerusalem, culminating in a series of parables and teachings. This particular verse is often overlooked in favor of the more dramatic or well-known events of the Passion Week, but it holds significant importance in understanding Jesus’ approach to scripture, tradition, and the nature of God.

In Matthew 22:29, Jesus says to the Sadducees, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” This statement comes as a response to the Sadducees’ attempt to trap Jesus with a question about the resurrection, a concept they did not believe in, differing in this from the Pharisees who did believe in an afterlife and resurrection.

The Sadducees posed a question based on the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6), where if a man died without having any children, his brother was supposed to marry the widow to raise up offspring for his brother. They presented a hypothetical scenario where a woman had seven husbands, each being a brother of the previous one, all dying without children. Their question was, “At the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

Jesus’ response, as recorded in Matthew 22:29-30, first challenges the premise of their question by stating they are in error due to their lack of understanding of both the scriptures and the power of God. He then explains that in the resurrection, people “will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” Jesus concludes by affirming the reality of the resurrection, citing the passage from Exodus 3:6, where God says, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” He interprets this to mean that God is not the God of the dead but of the living, implying that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive to God, even though they had physically died.

Analysis

1. Rejection of Materialism: Jesus’ statement about people not marrying or being given in marriage in heaven touches on the nature of human existence beyond the physical realm. It implies a transcendence of the earthly institutions and roles, including marriage, into a realm where human identity and purpose are redefined in relation to God.

2. Interpretation of Scripture: Jesus’ use of Exodus 3:6 to argue for the resurrection is a prime example of his interpretive approach to scripture. By focusing on the present tense (“I am”) used by God to describe His relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jesus demonstrates a nuanced understanding of Scripture that goes beyond the literal or legalistic interpretations favored by his contemporaries.

3. The Power of God: Jesus’ mention of the “power of God” highlights an essential aspect of his teachings: the omnipotence and transcendence of God. The Sadducees, by not believing in the resurrection, demonstrated a limited understanding of God’s power, whereas Jesus saw the resurrection as a testament to God’s ability to overcome even death itself.

4. Resurrection and Afterlife: This passage contributes to the Christian understanding of the afterlife and resurrection. Jesus affirms the reality of life after death but also transforms the understanding of what that life will be like. The resurrection is not merely a resumption of earthly life but a transformation into a new kind of existence, one that reflects the divine and heavenly.

Conclusion

Matthew 22:29, within the context of Jesus’ encounter with the Sadducees, presents a profound theological discussion on the nature of scripture, the power of God, and the concept of resurrection and afterlife. Jesus’ response not only challenges the Sadducees’ disbelief in the resurrection but also offers a deeper insight into the Christian concept of eternal life, emphasizing its qualitative difference from earthly existence. This interaction between Jesus and the Sadducees serves as a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, underscoring Jesus’ authority as a teacher and his unique understanding of God’s relationship with humanity.