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***What Does Matthew 22:30 TRULY mean?
Here is Matthew 22:30 from the KJV. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
One of my readers said she had a dream related to Matthew 22:30. Here is what she said:
“I’ve only dreamt of Jesus twice ever. And in this dream, Jesus simply told me that the verse people quote to say there will be no marriage (between men and women) in heaven is being misinterpreted/misunderstood.”
Then she went on to say that she has read many comments posted at the end of a short article by Mormon Christians. And she said,
"I guess the LDS Christians believe marriage is a lasting bond too.”
So then, from the word “too” it appears that this sister in our Lord Jesus Anointed ALSO believes that marriage is a lasting bond that continues for all eternity in Heaven.
But from other verses in the Bible it does not appear that marriage continues past death on the earth.
This TRUTH is clearly understood in several verses of Scripture that a Husband or wife is free to remarry if their spouse dies.
Therefore, from what Jesus SPECIFICALLY said in “the dream” concerning Matthew 22:30. Mark 12:25, and Luke 20: 34-40 can mean several different things.
Please understand that these verses being misunderstood or being incorrectly “interpreted” does not prove or disprove that a Married Christian couple will continue being a Married couple up in Heaven for all eternity.
For you see, those words of Jesus in that dream simply mean that Christians have not correctly understood what those verses mean in the Light of their context and in the Light of the Whole word of Almighty God!
Jesus would never tell anyone in a dream or a vision anything that contradicts the written Scriptures.
In other words, we should never “ASSUME” what we want or DESIRE to hear as being what Jesus meant in a dream or a vision.
To read the CONTEXT, please click the BLUE links.
To read the STUDY and the context, please scroll down.
TABLE of CONTENTS
Introduction-Dreams From God Will Never Contradict Scripture!
Section 1 - Bible Verses Showing Marriage Ends at Death!
Section 2 - A Closer Look at the Greek!
Section 3 - Two Correct Translations of Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25, and Luke 20:34-40.
Conclusion - No bearing children in Heaven!
Alternate Conclusion - The God Intending meaning of the Greek Text!
Download this Verse Study to read OFFLINE!
Will a Man and Wife Still be Married in Heaven?
Introduction!
Dreams From God Will Never Contradict Scripture!
I do indeed believe in dreams and visions where people, both saved and unsaved, have seen and heard Jesus is a dream or in a vision.
I have had a few dreams “from” God where I woke up and “asked” God what the dream “meant”. I then heard God’s voice speaking to my mind the meaning of the dream. But I have never “seen” either God or His Son Jesus in a dream.
Again, let me repeat what I said above. One of my readers said she had a dream related to Matthew 22:30. Here is what she said:
“I’ve only dreamt of Jesus twice ever. And in this dream, Jesus simply told me that the verse people quote to say there will be no marriage (between men and women) in heaven is being misinterpreted/misunderstood.”
Then she went on to say that she has read many comments posted at the end of a short article by Mormon Christians. And she said,
"I guess the LDS Christians believe marriage is a lasting bond too.”
So then, from the word “too” it appears that this sister in our Lord Jesus Anointed ALSO believes that marriage is a lasting bond that continues for all eternity in Heaven.
But from other verses in the Bible it does not appear that marriage continues past death on the earth.
This TRUTH is clearly understood in several verses of Scripture that a Husband or wife is free to remarry if their spouse dies.
Therefore, from what Jesus SPECIFICALLY said in “the dream” concerning Matthew 22:30. Mark 12:25, and Luke 20: 34-40 can mean several different things.
Please understand that these verses being misunderstood or being incorrectly “interpreted” does not prove or disprove that a Married Christian couple will continue being a Married couple up in Heaven for all eternity.
For you see, those words of Jesus in that dream simply mean that Christians have not correctly understood what those verses mean in the Light of their context and in the Light of the Whole word of Almighty God!
Jesus would never tell anyone in a dream or a vision anything that contradicts the written Scriptures.
In other words, we should never “ASSUME” what we want or DESIRE to hear as being what Jesus meant in a dream or a vision.
Section 1.
Bible Verses Showing Marriage Ends at Death!
Bible Verses Showing Marriage Ends at Death!
There are several passages in the Bible that CLEARLY teach that the marital bond is only active while both spouses are still alive.
And when one spouse dies physically, then the other spouse is free to marry again. Therefore, the bond of marriage ends at death.
Please read Romans 7:2-4 which makes this truth blatantly clear, a spouse is free from the Law of God to remarry if their spouse dies.
Romans 7:2–4.
“For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Romans 7:3. So then if, while her husband lives, she is married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she is married to another man.
Romans 7:4. Wherefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
This passage of Scripture teaches us “two” things:
The legal and moral binding of marriage ends with the death of one spouse.
As a Christian where both husband and wife are Christians, they are also the BRIDE that is betrothed to Jesus at his coming to become his WIFE!
So, I understand this passage of Scripture to be saying that EVEN during this present age, the marriage between Christian should be lived unto the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that we will become his wife during the age to come.
Let’s move on to 1 Corinthians 7:39, which adds that a single Christian should seek to marry another single Christian. As opposed to a single Christian marrying a person who is not a single Christian.
1 Corinthians 7:39.
“The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.”
The Apostle Paul again affirms that remarriage is permitted after death. And thus, both of these passages of Scripture clearly indicate that the marital bond is dissolved at death.
Then we have the three parallel verses in Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25, and Luke 20:34-40 with the focus for now on verse 35.
Matthew 22:30.
“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
On the surface this verse indicates that earthly marriage does not continue in the world to come.
I say, “on the surface” because we are reading this verse out of its context at the moment.
Mark 12:25.
“For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.”
This verse is parallel to Matthew 22:30 and it confirms the temporary nature of marriage to life on the earth.
Luke 20:35.
“But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:”
This verse in Luke 20:35 raises a question that must be addressed. And that question can be asked in a variety of ways.
What if one of the spouses is not a Christian and he or she is NOT accounted WORTHY of the resurrection to enter into Heaven?
What if only ONE of the spouses endures unto the end to be saved and the other spouse is cast into the lake of fire to be destroyed?
What if both spouses are NOT found worthy to obtain eternal life and both husband and wife are cast into the lake of fire to be destroyed?
Both spouses are accounted worthy to obtain eternal life, but they receive different rewards as the parables of Jesus teach. And thus, they are appointed to rule over different cities on the earth?
As some of you can see, life for those of us ruling with Jesus over the whole earth during the world to come will not be as some Christians ASSUME!
We will be made Kings and Lords to rule and reign with Jesus over the whole earth for 1,000 years.
And our husband is Jesus!
The next verse is not as clear and direct as the verses we covered above.
Ecclesiastes 9:6.
“Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”
This verse is referring to when a person dies and all their dreams and plans to accomplish on the earth come to an END.
So, while this verse is not explicitly about marriage, it does reflect the cessation of earthly relationships after death.
Another verse that agrees with life in heaven being different is that the FORMER things come to an end after we die as a Christian who is found worthy to obtain eternal life, according to Revelation 21:4.
Revelation 21:4.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
To summarize briefly, all of these verses together teach that marriage is an earthly covenant designed to last until death.
And then, death ends the marital bond, freeing the surviving spouse to remarry in the Lord.
Therefore, it should seem clear to all Christians that in the resurrection, marriage as an earthly “institution” ceases.
Now, the Mormon Christians have other books apart from the Bible, which they base their beliefs upon. And the Bible makes it clear that we are not to add to the Bible other books.
Section 2 - A Closer Look at the Greek and the Context!
You can read all three parallel passages in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 20 on your own. I will only quote Luke 20:22-40 and add a few comments regarding what stands out to me.
Luke 20:22-40.
“Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which DENY that there is ANY resurrection; and they asked him,
This is an important fact that is necessary to understand WHY the Sadducees propose the question they asked Jesus. They were trying to prove that there is no such thing as a resurrection and an afterlife. In other words, they believed when you die you cease to exist.
Luke 20:28. Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
The focus of their question is to BEAR a child or children for the dead brother to continue his lineage.
And this is an important fact when we take a closer look at the meanings of the Greek words in verses 34 and 35.
Luke 20:29. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
Luke 20:30. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
Luke 20:31. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
Luke 20:32. Last of all the woman died also.
Luke 20:33. Therefore, in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? For seven had her to wife.
As you can clearly see, according to the culture during the Old Testament times, the very purpose for marriage was to BEAR children.
One of the arguments for marriage being “eternal” is Matthew 19:5-6, where Jesus says that man and wife are no longer two but they shall be one flesh.
My understanding of TWO becoming ONE FLESH is speaking of when the husband and wife come together to BEAR a child or children.
I do agree that becoming ONE can mean being one in AGREEMENT. But it is blatantly obvious that husband and wife do not become ONE FLESH until a child is born.
And I personally believe that Christians should not even consider divorce as being an option. For you see, when there is no other option but to work out the problems in marriage, then they will always find a way to solve every problem.
Keep reading in Matthew 19:8-12 where Jesus explains that except for adultery there should be no divorce, and the disciples of Jesus said, then it is better to never marry. Jesus affirms that for the KINGDOM’S sake it is better to not marry if a person can receive that life.
I do not think some Christians realize the purpose for why God Created man and the Son of Man. Have you ever wondered WHY we shall JUDGE the angels?
Please read B-6 Ch1. Why God Created us!
Luke 20:34. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world MARRY, and are given in MARRIAGE:
The Greek word that is translated as MARRY comes from the root or base word “gamos”, Strong’s number G1062, which means nuptial: marriage and wedding.
The first meaning is to Marry or Wed.
And the second meaning of the English word “nuptial” carries the meaning of BREEDING or having children.
Again, in the culture of Jesus’ day, marriage was understood primarily as the God‑ordained means of bearing children and continuing the family line.
And the levirate law itself existed for this very reason, which was to “raise up seed” for a deceased brother. So, to be married and yet remain childless was considered a sorrow, even a disgrace for some, because children were seen as the heritage of the Lord and the sign of God’s blessing upon a household.
In modern times, some couples marry with no intention of ever having children, but in Biblical Israel the purpose of marriage was inseparably tied to fruitfulness of the womb.
This cultural reality explains why Jesus connects marriage with “this age,” the present mortal world where humans reproduce, and why he teaches that marriage does not continue in “that age,” the resurrection world where immortals no longer bear children.
Luke 20:35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain THAT world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither MARRY, nor are given in MARRIAGE:
So then, according to Jesus, marriage belongs to “this age,” where humans are mortal and must reproduce or all humans would cease to exist.
However in “that age,” the resurrection age, speaking of the 1000 years during the world to come, the children of the resurrection are immortal and cannot die. Therefore, they will not reproduce to have children.
Jesus makes it clear that marriage, “as an institution”, ends for those of us account worthy to obtain eternal life or IMMORTALITY in the world to come.
But that does not mean that Jesus’ words eliminate personal relationships, love, or recognition of family and friends. Rather, it is only the reproductive part of the institution of marriage that ends for the IMMORTALS.
However, the mortals on earth in the age to come will still marry and bear children, but immortals in heaven will not bear children.
Luke 20:36. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
The Greek word translated as “children” is the same word used for “sons”. So, when Jesus says that the resurrected saints are “equal to the angels” and are “sons of God,” he is drawing on the Old Testament understanding of the heavenly beings, the angels, who are called the sons of God in the Old Testament.
In other words, the New Testament refers to the heavenly beings as the Angels. But in the Old Testament some of the angels are in fact called the Elohim, the divine council, the spiritual “sons of God”, who serve in God’s presence, according to Psalm 8:1-6, Psalm 82:1, 6, and Job 1:6,
In Scripture, the term “sons of God” is used for beings who possess immortality, who stand in God’s court, and who do His will.
Jesus applies this same title of SONS or God to the resurrected righteous, showing that in the age to come they will join the heavenly family of God, sharing the same immortal nature as the angels or the gods, the Elohim.
John 1:12 says that we who believe in the NAME of Jesus have been given the POWER to BECOME the SONS of God.
This exalted nature of Divinity does not erase our human identity, because Jesus still refers to himself as the Son of MAN. Rather, it elevates the redeemed to the status of God’s heavenly sons, no longer mortal, no longer reproducing, but living as part of God’s eternal Elohim household.
But Satan has blinded the minds of many Christians to this Gospel of GLORY, according to 2 Corinthians 4:3,4. You can see how the KJV says glorious gospel as opposed to the God of GLORY. The Enemy does not want you to know that the SAME GLORY that God gave Jesus is now promised to us who believe, according to John 17:22.
Luke 20:37. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luke 20:38. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
The resurrected saints shall become immortal like the angels, and also stand in that same divine council as God’s own sons, serving Him in the heavenly court just as the angels do.
God is the God of the living, all who belong to Him live unto Him, sharing in His life, His presence, and His service. And in this way, the children of the resurrection become part of the Creator’s eternal Elohim household, serving before Him in the age to come.
Luke 20:39. Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, you have well said.
Luke 20:40. And after that they dared not ask him any question at all.”
Even the scribes, many of whom opposed the Sadducees, recognized the force of Jesus’ argument and openly affirmed it.
But more striking is the silence of the Sadducees themselves. These were the very men who denied any resurrection. And therefore, they erred by not understanding that the children of the resurrection will be like the angels.
And it appears that they had no understanding of the fallen angels being replaced by the children of the resurrection. But yet they could not refute a single word Jesus had spoken. His appeal to Moses, whom the Sadducees claimed to follow, left them without reply.
And their silence stands as an unintended testimony that Jesus had decisively proven the reality of the resurrection and the life of the age to come.
So, with the words of Jesus to the Sadducees being examined more closely, we can now turn to the broader question of how Matthew 22:30 should be understood in light of the Greek text itself and in the light of the “bigger picture” in the Bible/
The traditional translation is well known and quoted, but it is not the only way the passage can be rendered. In fact, there are two other legitimate translation possibilities that shed additional light on Jesus’ meaning. And I hope they will help clarify what Jesus was, and was not teaching about relationships in the resurrection.
These alternative renderings do not contradict the conclusions already reached in this study. Rather, they deepen our understanding of the text and the cultural assumptions behind the question. In the next section, we will explore these two translation options in detail.
Section 3 - Two Correct Translations of Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25, and Luke 20:34-40.
The first possible translation grows directly out of everything we have just learned about marriage in the culture of Jesus’ day being for childbearing.
Marriage existed primarily for the purpose of bearing children and continuing the family line, not merely for companionship. This is why Mary could say she “knew” Joseph relationally yet had never “KNEW” him sexually. For you see, in that culture, true marriage was not considered complete until the couple came together to produce children.
Even in our laws of today, a marriage is not considered valid until it is consummated. So, when we place Mary’s words alongside the three parallel resurrection passages, a paraphrased rendering becomes possible.
Jesus is not forbidding or teaching that there will be no relational closeness in the resurrection. But rather, he is declaring that the earthly, child‑bearing function of marriage does not continue among immortals.
Since no other verse directly supports this specific Greek nuance, the following translation must be presented as an interpretive paraphrase rather than a strict word for word rendering. But yet, even as a paraphrase translation, it aligns perfectly with the cultural and theological context.
Paraphrased Translation of Matthew 22:30 (based on the cultural childbearing purpose of marriage)
Paraphrased Translation of Matthew 22:30 (based on the cultural childbearing purpose of marriage)
“In the resurrection, people do not enter into the child‑bearing marriages of this age, nor are they given in marriage for the purpose of producing children; for in that immortal state they are like the angels, who do not reproduce.”
Again, this paraphrased rendering does not contradict the narrative of the Bible because it is built on the cultural and theological foundation Scripture itself provides. In Biblical Israel, marriage was not primarily a romantic institution, but the God‑ordained means of bearing children and continuing the family line.
And if divorce was allowed from the beginning, there would be no LINEAGE of the Messiah. So you can see how even marriage is a part of God’s PLAN of Salvation.
Mary’s statement that she had not “known” Joseph sexually shows that marriage was not considered complete until the couple came together for the purpose of childbearing.
God chose that the Messiah being born of a virgin to be a SIGN of how to know the TRUE Messiah.
When Jesus says that in the resurrection people “neither marry nor are given in marriage,” he is not denying relational closeness or personal recognition in the age to come,
Jesus is simply declaring that the child‑bearing function of marriage belongs only to the MORTAL humans of this age.
But in the resurrection, the immortals do not die and therefore they do not reproduce, making earthly marriage unnecessary for the harvest of the first fruit unto God. This paraphrased translation simply makes explicit what the cultural context and the parallel passages already imply: Jesus is speaking about the end of child‑bearing marriages, not the end of meaningful relationships among God’s redeemed.
The second possible translation!
It is more of a word for word translation.
The second translation option requires me to lay a bit of groundwork, because both words Jesus uses in Matthew 22:29 have more than just one meaning
The two Greek words are “dumamis” and “theos”, and each Greek word carries additional meanings beyond their most common English renderings.
In other words, it surprised me that “dunamis”, which is commonly translated as power, ability, and authority, also means MEANING.
Let that sink in while we take a closer look at the Greek word “theos”. Again, the common translation is God with a capital “G” to refer to Almighty God the Father.
But “theos” can also refer to Deity, Divinity, or the divine nature itself. So then, with these broader meanings of these two Greek words, “dunamis” and “theos” let’s take a close look at some other possible “translations” of Matther 22:29.
Alternate translation of Matthew 22:29.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the MEANING of DEITY.”
In other words, the Sadducees’ error was not merely ignorance of Scripture, but a failure to grasp the nature of DIVINITY or divine life being immortal, non‑dying, no pain, no sickness, no sorrow, and therefore no need for marriage to reproduce offspring.
This alternate translation is not only a legitimate translation, it also agrees with the whole narrative of the Bible. Psalm 75:1-10 teaches that God is cutting down one and promoting another to take his place. It is a prophecy of Jesus who will rule uprightly in righteousness.
Conclusion - No bearing children in Heaven!
In summary, Interpretation #1 shows that Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:30 do not forbid meaningful relationships in the resurrection but simply affirm that childbearing does not belong to the immortal life of the saints.
Just as the angels, God’s Elohim, His heavenly sons who serve in the divine council, do not reproduce, so the resurrected children of God will not bear children in the age to come.
Whether some angels may have once been mortal before being exalted to thrones in God’s court is a question Scripture does not fully answer, but nothing in the biblical narrative contradicts the principle Jesus establishes: immortals are not allowed to reproduce.
And therefore, the child‑bearing PART of the institution of marriage ends when we are given the Divine Nature of IMMORTALITY to be like Jesus at his coming.
The saints will live as God’s heavenly family, serving Him in the court of the Elohim, sharing His life and Divine Nature of immortality forever.
Alternate Conclusion - The God Intending meaning of the Greek Text!
This alternate conclusion harmonizes fully with the Biblical monotheism I have been teaching: the one supreme God who rules over the lesser gods He created, the Elohim who will serve in RIGHTEOUSNESS in His court.
Jesus rebuked the Sadducees for not knowing “the power of God.” But again, Jesus did NOT speak ENGLISH.
My point is that the writers of the gospels and the New Testament wrote the words of Jesus in the Greek language. And the broader meaning of “dunamis” that is translated as “power” also means “MEANING”.
And the Greek word “theos” translated as “God” also means Deity, Divinity, and divine nature.
So, in the light of these other possible meanings of the Greek words, the God intended meaning of Matthew 22:29-30 could be translated as follows.
Alternate translation of Matthew 22:29-30.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the MEANING of DEITY.
Matthew 22:30. In the resurrection, people do not enter into the child‑bearing marriages of this age, nor are they given in marriage to produce children; for in that immortal state they are like the angels, who do not reproduce.”
This translation reinforces the entire Biblical narrative: the Most High God presides over His Elohim, and the resurrected saints will share in that divine, immortal life. It is not a contradiction but a confirmation of the God‑intended meaning behind Jesus’ words.
Peter gives us the only explicit definition of DIVINE NATURE in the entire Bible, and it perfectly supports this interpretation.
2 Peter 1:3–4.
“According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:
2 Peter 1:4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
This means that the same divine nature God gave to Jesus, the immortal, deathless life of Deity, is the very same nature promised to all who believe.
This understanding aligns perfectly with TRUE Biblical monotheism: the Most High God stands supreme over the Elohim He made, and He grants His divine, immortal nature to His sons in the resurrection.
Therefore, this translation reflects not only the Greek possibilities but the God‑intended meaning for why God chose to us man and the Son of Man to JUDGE the angels by the RIGHTEOUS reign of Jesus and the Saints over the whole earth for 1000 years.
Again, please read all of Book 6 the True Biblical Meaning for Why God Created us!.
Chapter 1 opens a whole new understanding for why God Created man and the Son of Man, Jesus.
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