Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 22:25
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:
Verse 25. Seven brethren] It is very likely that the Sadducees increased the number, merely to make the question the more difficult.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Now there were with us seven brethren,…. That is, there was in the city, town or neighbourhood, where these Sadducees dwelt, probably at Jerusalem, a family, in which were seven sons, all brethren by the father’s side; for brethren by the mother’s side were not counted brethren, nor obliged by this law a; whether this was a reigned case which is here and in the following verses put, or whether it was real fact, which is possible, it matters not: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: the eldest of these seven brethren married a wife, and after some time died, having no children, son or daughter, by his wife; and therefore, according to the above law, leaves her to his next brother to marry her, and raise up seed unto him; which, according to the Jewish canons b, could not be done before ninety days, or three months after the decease of his brother; for so long they were to wait and see, whether she was with child by his brother or not; for if she was, it was not necessary, yea, it was unlawful for him to marry her.
a Maimon. Hilch. Yebum, c. 1. sect. 7. b T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 47. 1. Maimon. ib. c. 1. sect. 19.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25. Seven brethren The foundation of this imaginary case is in the apocraphal book of Tob 3:8 . The Sadducees assume that the resurrection includes the revival of the relations existing in the present world. Consequently any second marriage produces this supposed contest in the world to come. How much more a sevenfold marriage. The Pharisees believed that the resurrection would take place at Messiah’s coming, and a renovated realm should be established, in which the risen dead would engage in all the affairs of a new but sublunary life. Marriage, procreation, building, government would all continue. The difficulty stated by the Sadducees would, in that case. truly arise. Which of several risen husbands should have the risen wife? Which of a line of princes should be king?
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Now there were with us seven brothers, and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife to his brother, in like manner the second also, and the third, to the seventh, and after them all, the woman died.”
They then laid out the case where seven brothers died childless one after the other, each taking on the same wife in order to produce children for their brothers, after which the woman also died. Note the sad emphasis on a hopeless death. There was no resurrection here, not even on a Sadducean interpretation! All died and no life resulted.
The sevenfoldness was probably an exaggeration in order to emphasise the completeness of the argument, but it remained true, of course, if it occurred in cases of fewer brothers (three or more). ‘With us’ may indicate that an actual case was known. It would certainly not be impossible. But it was probably said more with the intention of emphasising the veracity of the argument.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
25 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:
Ver. 25. When he had married a wife, deceased ] Thus they that will marry shall have trouble, aye, and that in the flesh, wherein they haply promised themselves most comfort and contentment, How many are there that seek a happiness here; and when to enjoy it might seem a happiness indeed, they die, and then all their thoughts perish. Instances we have in Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Tamerlane, who, making great preparations for the conquest of the Turkish Empire, died of an ague in the midst of his great hope and greatest power. The like might be showen of many learned men, that died, when they might have been most useful, as Keckerman, Perkins, Preston, Pemble, young Drusius, &c. All our learning is soon refuted with one black Theta, which, understanding us not, snappeth us unrespectively without distinction, and putteth at once a period to our writing and to our being.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 22:25 . : this phrase “with us,” in Matthew only, seems to turn an imaginary case into a fact (Holtz., H. C.). A fact it could hardly be. As Chrys. humorously remarks, after the second the brothers would shun the woman as a thing of evil omen ( , H. lxx.).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
issue. Same as “seed” in Mat 22:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 22:25. , with us) The Sadducees raise this doubt on a circumstance, rare, and perhaps long since canvassed,[963] which might have been nearly as well raised from the case of any woman who had married more than one husband. The maintainers of errors frequently seek for a colour for them from things which are little or nothing to the point.
[963] But which had not heretofore been sufficiently and decidedly cleared up.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mar 12:19-23, Luk 20:29-33, Heb 9:27
Reciprocal: Rth 1:5 – and the woman Mar 12:20 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5-28
The Sadducees described a case (whether supposed or actual does not matter) in which they thought the position of Jesus would find great difficulty. It is evident that if a woman should meet seven men alive, each of whom had legally been her husband, she would be embarrassed to say the least as also would the men. But their supposed problem was based on the theory that human beings were to recognize each other after the resurrection in the same way they did when they lived on the earth. There are some Sadducees now with reference to this matter of future recognition. Such a theory is fathered by the wish which is based on a fleshly desire, and which has to deny the teaching of 1Co 15:42-54; Php 3:21; 1Jn 3:2.
V
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 22:25. There were with us. Probably a purely fictitious case, notwithstanding this statement.