Luke 20:34

“And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage.”

Context:This verse is a part of a dialogue between Jesus and the Sadducees, a group of religious leaders who questioned Jesus about the resurrection. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, and they were trying to challenge Jesus’ teachings.

In order to understand this verse better, it’s helpful to consider the context. In the preceding verses, the Sadducees present a hypothetical scenario about a woman who had seven husbands, each of whom died. They asked Jesus whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus responds to their question by saying: “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage” (Luke 20:34-35, KJV).

Jesus’ response acknowledges the practice of marriage in the current world (“the children of this world marry, and are given in marriage”), but He makes it clear that marriage as we know it will not exist in the resurrection or the world to come (“they… neither marry, nor are given in marriage”).

This statement by Jesus highlights an important aspect of the resurrection and the eternal life that awaits believers. In the heavenly realm, there will be a fundamental change in the way relationships are experienced. Marriage, which is an institution ordained for this earthly life, will no longer be necessary or relevant in the new heavens and the new earth.

Jesus’ words indicate that the primary focus of the resurrection is not on human relationships, but rather on the transformed spiritual state of believers and their eternal fellowship with God. The resurrection entails a glorified existence that transcends the limitations and concerns of earthly life.

It is worth noting that Jesus’ statement does not imply the absence of relationships or a lack of connection in the afterlife. Rather, it emphasizes the superiority and transformation of those relationships. Believers will experience a deep and meaningful connection with God and with one another that surpasses the earthly institution of marriage.

In conclusion, Luke 20:34 conveys Jesus’ teaching on the nature of marriage in the context of the resurrection and the world to come. While marriage is a part of life on earth, it will not exist in the same form in the heavenly realm. Instead, believers will experience a transformed and elevated existence, with an emphasis on their eternal relationship with God and fellow believers.