Neither Marry, Nor Are Given In Marriage

"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage"

The apostle Paul's teaching (see also Paul's Ministry) about marriage was pragmatic; practical in both the physical purpose of marriage for the time that the need for the creation of physical humans is ongoing (and why faithfulness is one of the Ten Commandments, a Commandment that actually has an ultimate spiritual purpose - see "Thou shalt not commit adultery"), but also realistic in that marriage will one day end.

Paul's "the time is short" statement has been misinterpreted by some who think that Paul was mistaken about how soon Christ's return would happen, but Paul knew that when the return happens is irrelevant to the "time being short" for God's people, whenever they lived (see Could Christ Return Tonight?) and that for some, a total effort in the service to God would preclude marriage. Paul was apparently not married (although Peter was - but perhaps to illustrate the point, Paul wrote much of what became the New Testament, while Peter wrote almost nothing). John the Baptist (see John's Last Days) was apparently not married. Jesus Christ was for certain not married.

The Sadducees asked Jesus Christ how married people will be related to one another in the resurrection (they didn't seem to understand the different timing of the resurrections either - see When Will You Be Judged?). They seem to have deliberately ignored the "until death do you part" principle that was known just as much then as in the present day (e.g. "So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man," Romans 7:3 KJV). Nevertheless, they asked what may simply have been intended as an ambush question.

"The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now 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: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her." (Matthew 22:23-28 KJV)

The Lord's answer, beginning with the obvious "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures" (i.e. their ignoring the "until death do you part"), described how people in the resurrection to salvation will no longer be physical (see "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit"). His reference to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all of whom are dead, did not mean that they are alive now (see What Happens When You Die?) but was simply an analogy for God's timeless perspective.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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." (Matthew 22:29-32 KJV)

Fact Finder: What sort of spiritual marriage will there be in the Kingdom of God?
See The Marriage of The Lamb

Daily Bible Study Library - Thousands of Studies!
	Jesus Christ Bible History Prophecy Christian Living Encouragement	Eternal Life By The Book Bible Places Curiosities The Spirit World