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Selected Verse: Matthew 22:23 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 22:23	Strong Concordance	The same [1722] [1565] day [2250] came [4334] to him [846] the Sadducees [4523], which [3588] say [3004] that there is [1511] no [3361] resurrection [386], and [2532] asked [1905] him [846],
	King James	The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Conversation of Jesus with the Sadducees respecting the resurrection - See also Mar 12:18-27; Luk 20:27-38. Mat 22:23 The same day came the Sadducees - For an account of the Sadducees, see the notes at Mat 3:7. No resurrection - The word "resurrection" usually means the raising up the "body" to life after it is dead, Joh 11:24; Joh 5:29; Co1 15:22. But the Sadducees not only denied this, but also a future state, and the separate existence of the soul after death altogether, as well as the existence of angels and spirits, Act 23:8. Both these doctrines have commonly stood or fallen together, and the answer of our Saviour respects both, though it more distinctly refers "to the separate existence of the soul, and to a future state of rewards and punishments," than to the resurrection of the body. Mat 22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said ... - Deu 25:5-6. This law was given by Moses in order to keep the families and tribes of the Israelites distinct, and to perpetuate them. Raise up seed unto his brother - That is, the children shall be reckoned in the genealogy of the deceased brother; or, to all civil purposes, shall be considered as his. Mat 22:25-28 There were with us seven brethren - It is probable that they stated a case as difficult as possible; and though no such case might have occurred, yet it was supposable, and in their view it presented a real difficulty. The difficulty arose from the fact, that they supposed that, substantially, the same state of things must take place in the other world as here; that if there is such a world, husbands and wives must be there reunited; and they professed not to be able to see how one woman could be the wife of seven men. Mat 22:29 Ye do err, not knowing ... - They had taken a wrong view of the doctrine of the resurrection. It was not taught that people would marry there. The "Scriptures," here, mean the books of the Old Testament. By appealing to them, Jesus showed that the doctrine of the future state was there, and that the Sadducees should have believed it as it was, and not have added the absurd doctrine to it that people must live there as they do here. The way in which the enemies of the truth often attempt to make a doctrine of the Bible ridiculous is by adding to it, and then calling it absurd. The reason why the Saviour produced a passage from the books of Moses Mat 22:32 was that they had also appealed to his writings, Mat 22:24. Other places of the Old Testament, in fact, asserted the doctrine more clearly Dan 12:2; Isa 26:19, but he wished to meet them on their own ground. None of those scriptures asserted that people would live there as they do here, and therefore their reasoning was false. Nor the power of God - They probably denied, as many have done since, that God could gather the scattered dust of the dead and remould it into a body. On this ground they affirmed that the doctrine could not be true - opposing reason to revelation, and supposing that infinite power could not reorganize a body that it had at first organized, and raise a body from its own dust which it had at first raised from nothing. Mat 22:30 Neither marry ... - This was a full answer to the objections of the Sadducees. But are as the angels of God - That is, in the manner of their conversation; in regard to marriage and the mode of their existence. Luke adds that they shall be "equal with the angels." That is, they shall be elevated above the circumstances of mortality, and live in a manner and in a kind of conversation similar to that of the angels. It does not imply that they shall be equal in intellect, but only "in the circumstances of their existence," as that is distinguished from the way in which mortals live. He also adds, "Neither do they die any more, but are the children of God; being the children of the resurrection," or being accounted worthy to be raised up to life, and therefore "sons of God raised up to him." Mat 22:31, Mat 22:32 As touching ... - That is, in proof that the dead are raised. The passage which he quotes is recorded in Exo 3:6, Exo 3:15, This was at the burning bush (Mark and Luke). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for a long time when Moses spoke this - Abraham for 329 years, Isaac for 224 years, and Jacob for 198 years - yet God spake then as being still "their God." They must, therefore, be still somewhere living, for God is not the God of the dead; that is, it is absurd to say that God rules over those who are "extinct or annihilated," but he is the God only of those who have an existence. Luke adds, "all live unto him." That is, all the righteous dead, all of whom he can be properly called their God, live unto his glory. This passage does not prove directly that the dead "body" would be raised, but only by consequence. It proves that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had an existence then, or that their souls were alive. This the Sadducees denied Act 23:8, and this was the main point in dispute. If this was admitted - if there was a state of rewards and punishments - then it would easily follow that the bodies of the dead would be raised.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Conversation of Jesus with the Sadducees respecting the resurrection - See also Mar 12:18-27; Luk 20:27-38.

Mat 22:23

The same day came the Sadducees - For an account of the Sadducees, see the notes at Mat 3:7.

No resurrection - The word "resurrection" usually means the raising up the "body" to life after it is dead, Joh 11:24; Joh 5:29; Co1 15:22. But the Sadducees not only denied this, but also a future state, and the separate existence of the soul after death altogether, as well as the existence of angels and spirits, Act 23:8. Both these doctrines have commonly stood or fallen together, and the answer of our Saviour respects both, though it more distinctly refers "to the separate existence of the soul, and to a future state of rewards and punishments," than to the resurrection of the body.

Mat 22:24

Saying, Master, Moses said ... - Deu 25:5-6. This law was given by Moses in order to keep the families and tribes of the Israelites distinct, and to perpetuate them.

Raise up seed unto his brother - That is, the children shall be reckoned in the genealogy of the deceased brother; or, to all civil purposes, shall be considered as his.

Mat 22:25-28

There were with us seven brethren - It is probable that they stated a case as difficult as possible; and though no such case might have occurred, yet it was supposable, and in their view it presented a real difficulty.

The difficulty arose from the fact, that they supposed that, substantially, the same state of things must take place in the other world as here; that if there is such a world, husbands and wives must be there reunited; and they professed not to be able to see how one woman could be the wife of seven men.

Mat 22:29

Ye do err, not knowing ... - They had taken a wrong view of the doctrine of the resurrection.

It was not taught that people would marry there. The "Scriptures," here, mean the books of the Old Testament. By appealing to them, Jesus showed that the doctrine of the future state was there, and that the Sadducees should have believed it as it was, and not have added the absurd doctrine to it that people must live there as they do here. The way in which the enemies of the truth often attempt to make a doctrine of the Bible ridiculous is by adding to it, and then calling it absurd. The reason why the Saviour produced a passage from the books of Moses Mat 22:32 was that they had also appealed to his writings, Mat 22:24. Other places of the Old Testament, in fact, asserted the doctrine more clearly Dan 12:2; Isa 26:19, but he wished to meet them on their own ground. None of those scriptures asserted that people would live there as they do here, and therefore their reasoning was false.

Nor the power of God - They probably denied, as many have done since, that God could gather the scattered dust of the dead and remould it into a body. On this ground they affirmed that the doctrine could not be true - opposing reason to revelation, and supposing that infinite power could not reorganize a body that it had at first organized, and raise a body from its own dust which it had at first raised from nothing.

Mat 22:30

Neither marry ... - This was a full answer to the objections of the Sadducees.

But are as the angels of God - That is, in the manner of their conversation; in regard to marriage and the mode of their existence.

Luke adds that they shall be "equal with the angels." That is, they shall be elevated above the circumstances of mortality, and live in a manner and in a kind of conversation similar to that of the angels. It does not imply that they shall be equal in intellect, but only "in the circumstances of their existence," as that is distinguished from the way in which mortals live. He also adds, "Neither do they die any more, but are the children of God; being the children of the resurrection," or being accounted worthy to be raised up to life, and therefore "sons of God raised up to him."

Mat 22:31, Mat 22:32

As touching ... - That is, in proof that the dead are raised.

The passage which he quotes is recorded in Exo 3:6, Exo 3:15, This was at the burning bush (Mark and Luke). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for a long time when Moses spoke this - Abraham for 329 years, Isaac for 224 years, and Jacob for 198 years - yet God spake then as being still "their God." They must, therefore, be still somewhere living, for God is not the God of the dead; that is, it is absurd to say that God rules over those who are "extinct or annihilated," but he is the God only of those who have an existence. Luke adds, "all live unto him." That is, all the righteous dead, all of whom he can be properly called their God, live unto his glory. This passage does not prove directly that the dead "body" would be raised, but only by consequence. It proves that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had an existence then, or that their souls were alive. This the Sadducees denied Act 23:8, and this was the main point in dispute. If this was admitted - if there was a state of rewards and punishments - then it would easily follow that the bodies of the dead would be raised.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Mar 12:18.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The same day - Malice is ever active; let it be defeated ever so often, it returns to the charge. Jesus and his Gospel give no quarter to vice; the vicious will give no quarter to him or it. The Sadducees - For an account of these see on Mat 16:1 (note).

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⁸ For [1063] [3303] the Sadducees [4523] say [3004] that there is [1511] no [3361] resurrection [386], neither [3366] angel [32], nor [3383] spirit [4151]: but [1161] the Pharisees [5330] confess [3670] both [297].

¹⁵ And God [0430] said [0559] moreover [05750] unto Moses [04872], Thus shalt thou say [0559] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], The LORD [03068] God [0430] of your fathers [01], the God [0430] of Abraham [085], the God [0430] of Isaac [03327], and the God [0430] of Jacob [03290], hath sent [07971] me unto you: this is my name [08034] for ever [05769], and this is my memorial [02143] unto all [01755] generations [01755].

⁶ Moreover he said [0559], I am the God [0430] of thy father [01], the God [0430] of Abraham [085], the God [0430] of Isaac [03327], and the God [0430] of Jacob [03290]. And Moses [04872] hid [05641] his face [06440]; for he was afraid [03372] to look [05027] upon God [0430].

³² I [1473] am [1510] the God [2316] of Abraham [11], and [2532] the God [2316] of Isaac [2464], and [2532] the God [2316] of Jacob [2384]? God [2316] is [2076] not [3756] the God [2316] of the dead [3498], but [235] of the living [2198].

³¹ But [1161] as touching [4012] the resurrection [386] of the dead [3498], have ye [314] not [3756] read [314] that which [3588] was spoken [4483] unto you [5213] by [5259] God [2316], saying [3004],

³⁰ For [1063] in [1722] the resurrection [386] they neither [3777] marry [1060], nor [3777] are given in marriage [1547], but [235] are [1526] as [5613] the angels [32] of God [2316] in [1722] heaven [3772].

¹⁹ Thy dead [04191] men shall live [02421], together with my dead body [05038] shall they arise [06965]. Awake [06974] and sing [07442], ye that dwell [07931] in dust [06083]: for thy dew [02919] is as the dew [02919] of herbs [0219], and the earth [0776] shall cast out [05307] the dead [07496].

² And many [07227] of them that sleep [03463] in the dust [06083] of the earth [0127] shall awake [06974], some to everlasting [05769] life [02416], and some to shame [02781] and everlasting [05769] contempt [01860].

²⁴ Saying [3004], Master [1320], Moses [3475] said [2036], If [1437] a man [5100] die [599], having [2192] no [3361] children [5043], his [846] brother [80] shall marry [1918] his [846] wife [1135], and [2532] raise up [450] seed [4690] unto his [846] brother [80].

²⁹ Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [1161] said [2036] unto them [846], Ye do err [4105], not [3361] knowing [1492] the scriptures [1124], nor [3366] the power [1411] of God [2316].

²⁵ Now [1161] there were [2258] with [3844] us [2254] seven [2033] brethren [80]: and [2532] the first [4413], when he had married a wife [1060], deceased [5053], and [2532], having [2192] no [3361] issue [4690], left [863] his [846] wife [1135] unto his [846] brother [80]:
²⁶ Likewise [3668] the second [1208] also [2532], and [2532] the third [5154], unto [2193] the seventh [2033].
²⁷ And [1161] last [5305] of all [3956] the woman [1135] died [599] also [2532].
²⁸ Therefore [3767] in [1722] the resurrection [386] whose [5101] wife [1135] shall she be [2071] of the seven [2033]? for [1063] they all [3956] had [2192] her [846].

⁵ If brethren [0251] dwell [03427] together [03162], and one [0259] of them die [04191], and have no child [01121], the wife [0802] of the dead [04191] shall not marry without [02351] unto a stranger [0376] [02114]: her husband's brother [02993] shall go in [0935] unto her, and take [03947] her to him to wife [0802], and perform the duty of an husband's brother [02992] unto her.
⁶ And it shall be, that the firstborn [01060] which she beareth [03205] shall succeed [06965] in the name [08034] of his brother [0251] which is dead [04191], that his name [08034] be not put out [04229] of Israel [03478].

²² For [1063] as [5618] in [1722] Adam [76] all [3956] die [599], even [2532] so [3779] in [1722] Christ [5547] shall [2227] all [3956] be made alive [2227].

²⁹ And [2532] shall come forth [1607]; they that have done [4160] good [18], unto [1519] the resurrection [386] of life [2222]; and [1161] they that have done [4238] evil [5337], unto [1519] the resurrection [386] of damnation [2920].

²⁴ Martha [3136] saith [3004] unto him [846], I know [1492] that [3754] he shall rise again [450] in [1722] the resurrection [386] at [1722] the last [2078] day [2250].

⁷ But [1161] when he saw [1492] many [4183] of the Pharisees [5330] and [2532] Sadducees [4523] come [2064] to [1909] his [846] baptism [908], he said [2036] unto them [846], O generation [1081] of vipers [2191], who [5101] hath warned [5263] you [5213] to flee [5343] from [575] the wrath [3709] to come [3195]?

²³ The same [1722] [1565] day [2250] came [4334] to him [846] the Sadducees [4523], which [3588] say [3004] that there is [1511] no [3361] resurrection [386], and [2532] asked [1905] him [846],

²⁷ Then [1161] came [4334] to him certain [5100] of the Sadducees [4523], which [3588] deny [483] that there is [1511] any [3361] resurrection [386]; and they asked [1905] him [846],
²⁸ Saying [3004], Master [1320], Moses [3475] wrote [1125] unto us [2254], If [1437] any man's [5100] brother [80] die [599], having [2192] a wife [1135], and [2532] he [3778] die [599] without children [815], that [2443] his [846] brother [80] should take [2983] his wife [1135], and [2532] raise up [1817] seed [4690] unto his [846] brother [80].
²⁹ There were [2258] therefore [3767] seven [2033] brethren [80]: and [2532] the first [4413] took [2983] a wife [1135], and died [599] without children [815].
³⁰ And [2532] the second [1208] took [2983] her to wife [1135], and [2532] he [3778] died [599] childless [815].
³¹ And [2532] the third [5154] took [2983] her [846]; and [1161] in like manner [5615] the seven [2033] also [2532]: and they left [2641] no [3756] children [5043], and [2532] died [599].
³² [1161] Last [5305] of all [3956] the woman [1135] died [599] also [2532].
³³ Therefore [3767] in [1722] the resurrection [386] whose [5101] wife [1135] of them [846] is she [1096]? for [1063] seven [2033] had [2192] her [846] to wife [1135].
³⁴ And [2532] Jesus [2424] answering [611] said [2036] unto them [846], The children [5207] of this [5127] world [165] marry [1060], and [2532] are given in marriage [1548]:
³⁵ But [1161] they which shall be accounted worthy [2661] to obtain [5177] that [1565] world [165], and [2532] the resurrection [386] from [1537] the dead [3498], neither [3777] marry [1060], nor [3777] are given in marriage [1548]:
³⁶ Neither [3777] [1063] can [1410] they die [599] any more [2089]: for [1063] they are [1526] equal unto the angels [2465]; and [2532] are [1526] the children [5207] of God [2316], being [5607] the children [5207] of the resurrection [386].
³⁷ Now [1161] that [3754] the dead [3498] are raised [1453], even [2532] Moses [3475] shewed [3377] at [1909] the bush [942], when [5613] he calleth [3004] the Lord [2962] the God [2316] of Abraham [11], and [2532] the God [2316] of Isaac [2464], and [2532] the God [2316] of Jacob [2384].
³⁸ For [1161] he is [2076] not [3756] a God [2316] of the dead [3498], but [235] of the living [2198]: for [1063] all [3956] live [2198] unto him [846].

¹⁸ Then [2532] come [2064] unto [4314] him [846] the Sadducees [4523], which [3748] say [3004] there is [1511] no [3361] resurrection [386]; and [2532] they asked [1905] him [846], saying [3004],
¹⁹ Master [1320], Moses [3475] wrote [1125] unto us [2254], If [3754] [1437] a man's [5100] brother [80] die [599], and [2532] leave [2641] his wife [1135] behind him, and [2532] leave [863] no [3361] children [5043], that [2443] his [846] brother [80] should take [2983] his [846] wife [1135], and [2532] raise up [1817] seed [4690] unto his [846] brother [80].
²⁰ Now there were [2258] seven [2033] brethren [80]: and [2532] the first [4413] took [2983] a wife [1135], and [2532] dying [599] left [863] no [3756] seed [4690].
²¹ And [2532] the second [1208] took [2983] her [846], and [2532] died [599], [2532] neither [3761] left [863] he [846] any seed [4690]: and [2532] the third [5154] likewise [5615].
²² And [2532] the seven [2033] had [2983] her [846], and [2532] left [863] no [3756] seed [4690]: last [2078] of all [3956] the woman [1135] died [599] also [2532].
²³ In [1722] the resurrection [386] therefore [3767], when [3752] they shall rise [450], whose [5101] wife [1135] shall she be [2071] of them [846]? for [1063] the seven [2033] had [2192] her [846] to wife [1135].
²⁴ And [2532] Jesus [2424] answering [611] said [2036] unto them [846], Do ye [4105] not [3756] therefore [1223] [5124] err [4105], because ye know [1492] not [3361] the scriptures [1124], neither [3366] the power [1411] of God [2316]?
²⁵ For [1063] when [3752] they shall rise [450] from [1537] the dead [3498], they neither [3777] marry [1060], nor [3777] are given in marriage [1061]; but [235] are [1526] as [5613] the angels [32] which [3588] are in [1722] heaven [3772].
²⁶ And [1161] as touching [4012] the dead [3498], that [3754] they rise [1453]: have ye [314] not [3756] read [314] in [1722] the book [976] of Moses [3475], how [5613] in [1909] the bush [942] God [2316] spake [2036] unto him [846], saying [3004], I [1473] am the God [2316] of Abraham [11], and [2532] the God [2316] of Isaac [2464], and [2532] the God [2316] of Jacob [2384]?
²⁷ He is [2076] not [3756] the God [2316] of the dead [3498], but [235] the God [2316] of the living [2198]: ye [5210] therefore [3767] do [4105] greatly [4183] err [4105].

¹⁸ Then [2532] come [2064] unto [4314] him [846] the Sadducees [4523], which [3748] say [3004] there is [1511] no [3361] resurrection [386]; and [2532] they asked [1905] him [846], saying [3004],

¹ The Pharisees [5330] also [2532] with the Sadducees [4523] came [4334], and [2532] tempting [3985] desired [1905] him [846] that he would shew [1925] them [846] a sign [4592] from [1537] heaven [3772].