In Matthew 22:29–31, Jesus answers the Sadducees with a sentence that is both sharp and luminous:
“You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you…?”
This is not a casual reply. Lets us see its logic.
The Sadducees approached the question from a narrow legal horizon. They accepted the Torah as binding, yet rejected the Prophets ( Isaiah, Jeremaiah and so on) and that it the reason they didn’t believed in the resurrection of the dead. In their hellenistic worldview, the resurrection of the dead seemed impossible. But Jesus does has completely different perspectives.
He begins with the correction of the first wrong point: that is the reason Jesus is starting with that very word: “ In resurrection” (not in heaven) - meaning, that we will be in our bodily form and shape. That is important.
The risen body is still a human body. It is not somebody’s body, but your perfect, healthy, young and fully active body. It is you, not other gender you, not opposite gender you, neither neutral you. “…You are You…, there is no one alive who is Youer than You...” (I hope you do remember the famous statement we learned from our childhood.)
When Gospel of Matthew 27:52 says:
“The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised… they entered the holy city and appeared to many people,”
the citizens of Jerusalem did not see resurrected angels or abstract supernatural beings. They recognized them as their own loved ones.
Resurrection in Scripture is not the destruction or changing of identity, but it full restoration.
Likewise, when the Lord Himself appears after the resurrection, His wounds remain visible, and Thomas is invited:
“Put your hand into the wound in My side…”
— Gospel of John 20:27
The resurrected Christ is glorified, yet still fully recognizably Himself.
This is precisely what the Sadducees could not accept, because they did not accept the Prophets and therefore did not know “the Scriptures” to which Christ refers.
Jesus says:
“You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
— Gospel of Matthew 22:29
Now let us read the Scriptures the Sadducees rejected and Jesus rebuking them about that.
In Book of Isaiah 65:17–23 we read:
“See, I will create new (καινός -“restored, new in quality”, not new in time) heavens and a new (καινός ) earth…”
and further:
“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days… nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune.”
The prophet is not questioning birth itself, but the social and physical conditions of the coming world, which are entirely different from the present fallen order. This is where the point of dispute truly lies.
Again, in Isaiah 11:6–9:
“The infant (יוֹנֵק - yonek- nursing child, baby) will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child (גָּמוּל - gamul - weaned baby, ) will put its hand into the viper’s nest.”
This is not merely poetic language about political peace. It is the vision of New Earth restored to its original order.
With Isaiah 65 some theologians may debate whether the prophecy refers to restored Israel or the New Earth, though the exegetical structure and context strongly point toward the New Creation. But with Isaiah 11, there can hardly be such debate. The passage belongs entirely to the Restored World.
Returning now to Gospel of Matthew 22:30, the Greek becomes very important:
οὔτε γαμοῦσιν οὔτε γαμίζονται
oute gamousin oute gamizontai
“they neither marry nor are given in marriage.”
The verb γαμέω — gameō means “to marry,” to enter marital union. All the formal, jurisdictional documents, all aspects of necessary procedures in marital ceremony.
The related verb γαμίζω — gamizō means “to give in marriage”, in the same broader meaning.
The English words “monogamous” and “polygamous” preserve this same Greek root.
In Jewish tradition, marriage had 3 distinguish stages:
- engagement,
- signing of marriage contracts,
- and sexual relationship.
All these stages are necessary measures in a world that is broken, unstable, and marked by sin and vulnerability. These legal structures preserve holiness, protect women and children, and create safety within the boundaries of fallen humanity.
This is why the Sadducees refer to Deuteronomy 25 and the law of levirate marriage. That law existed to protect vulnerable members of society in a world overshadowed by death.
But Jesus says that after the resurrection, the structure of humanity and of the earth itself is different.
There is no need for such protective legal frameworks in the restored creation, because the conditions that required them no longer exist.
The New Earth is the restoration of Eden.
God united Adam and Eve without contracts, legal procedures, or documentation. There is no need to sign, to carry passport, ID, birth and marriage certificate. With no options of levirate marriage, legal support of widowed Eve, their orphaned kids.
First marriage existed before fear, before death, before social instability.
Next point what Jesus makes - they will be like angels.
Jesus statement not that you will be neutral gender like angels and not marry, but you will not experience necessary and unnecessary boundaries of this fallen world.
The commandment:
“Be fruitful and multiply”
was given before sin entered the world.
In the world to come your very pains will be addressed:
When those who never experience warmth and beauty of marital love and intimacy will find it. With the blessings of the ultimate Matchmaker (שַׁדְכָן — shadkhan) and the Minister of the Wedding ceremony.
Those whose dream of motherhood was shattered month after month in silent disappointment — who could never conceive, never felt life awaken beneath their heart, never experienced pride of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood — will leap from joy of carrying the baby.
Those who wombs cried miscarried after miscarries will be comforted.
Those who carried the stigma of this world - barren - will become a mother or father of many.
Those who descended into the grave with another silent heartbeat buried within them will not be raised without their treasures and hope to give birth to the precious ones.
All uniquely 'very good' and unprecedented aspects of Earth’s relational experiences within the universal worlds will be restored to their original standards to be carried forward.
The Sadducees asked about marriage, legal procedures and justice.
Jesus answered with eternity - beauty of Eden relationship and harmony.
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