How does Mark 12:20 connect with Old Testament laws on marriage and family? Verse in Focus “Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.” (Mark 12:20) Levirate Marriage in Moses’ Law • Deuteronomy 25:5-6 lays out the “levirate” (brother-in-law) duty: “If brothers dwell together and one of them dies without having a son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her… and the firstborn son… shall carry on the name of his dead brother.” • Purpose: – Preserve the deceased brother’s name and line. – Protect the widow from poverty and social vulnerability. – Keep tribal land within the family (cf. Numbers 27:8-11; 36:7-9). • The Sadducees’ scenario in Mark 12:20 assumes this law is literally practiced—seven times in a row. Old Testament Case Studies • Genesis 38 – Judah refuses Tamar’s levirate rights; the passage underscores the seriousness of the obligation. • Ruth 4 – Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer, marries Ruth to “maintain the name of the dead with his inheritance.” (Ruth 4:10) These narratives show the law in action and reveal God’s heart for family continuity and covenant faithfulness. Why the Sadducees Cited the Law • They rejected bodily resurrection (Acts 23:8); by stacking seven marriages, they hoped to prove resurrection absurd. • Their appeal to Deuteronomy proves they accepted the literal authority of Moses—even while denying other Scripture. Family and Covenant Implications • God ties family structure to covenant promises: – Lineage preserves the promise of Messiah (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:1-16). – Land inheritance safeguards tribal identity (Joshua 14-21). • The levirate duty shows that marriage is more than romance; it serves God’s redemptive plan and the community’s stability. Jesus’ Response (vv. 24-27) • He affirms Scripture’s accuracy (“You err because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God”). • He cites Exodus 3:6 to prove resurrection, using the very Law the Sadducees trusted. • Application: the law of marriage is real and binding on earth, yet it points beyond itself to eternal realities. Timeless Takeaways • Scripture fits together seamlessly—Mark 12:20 rests squarely on Deuteronomy 25. • God safeguards widows, lineage, and property through clear commands. • Earthly family structures highlight, but cannot eclipse, the greater hope of resurrection life promised by God. |
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