Original Greek Text Of Matthew 22:29
Original Greek Text of Matthew 22:29
The verse in question, Matthew 22:29, is part of a larger pericope where Jesus is debating with the Sadducees about the resurrection. The verse reads: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (KJV). In the original Greek, this verse is: "ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς πλανᾶσθε μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ" [3].
The context of Matthew 22:29 is Jesus' response to the Sadducees, who had posed a question to him about the resurrection, citing a scenario based on the levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) to challenge the concept of resurrection [2]. Jesus' reply addresses their misunderstanding of both the Scriptures and God's power.
The key terms in this verse are "τὰς γραφὰς" (the scriptures) and "τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ" (the power of God). The phrase "τὰς γραφὰς" refers to the Hebrew Scriptures, which the Sadducees accepted as authoritative, though they only recognized the Pentateuch as canonical. "τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ" is understood by some as referring to God's ability to raise the dead [3].
The major exegetical decision in interpreting Matthew 22:29 revolves around understanding what Jesus meant by "the power of God." According to the Tyndale House commentary, "the power of God most likely refers to God’s ability to raise the dead" [3]. This interpretation is supported by the context of the Sadducees' question and Jesus' response.
The range of interpretations for Matthew 22:29 includes understanding Jesus' rebuke of the Sadducees as not just a correction of their specific question but also as a broader critique of their theological stance. The verse has been interpreted by various traditions, including the early Church Fathers, who saw it as a defense of the doctrine of resurrection. Origen, for example, discusses this passage in the context of the nature of resurrection and the afterlife, highlighting the difference between the earthly and resurrected state [4].
In tradition, Matthew 22:29 has functioned as a key text in discussions about the resurrection and the nature of the afterlife. It is often cited in debates about the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection and the theological implications of Jesus' response.
The historical setting of this verse is crucial for understanding its meaning. The Sadducees were a Jewish sect known for their denial of the resurrection and their strict adherence to the written Torah. Jesus' response to them reflects a broader Jewish context where debates about resurrection and the interpretation of Scripture were significant [1].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Matthew 22:29 cross-references: Genesis 18:14, Job 19:25, Psalms 16:9, Psalms 17:15, Psalms 49:14, Psalms 73:25, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 26:19, Isaiah 57:1, Jeremiah 32:17, Daniel 12:2, Hosea 13:14, Luke 1:37, Luke 24:44, John 20:9, Acts 26:8, Romans 15:4, Philippians 3:21”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Matthew 22:25 cross-references: Mark 12:19, Luke 20:29, Hebrews 9:27”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 22:29: 22:29 The power of God most likely refers to God’s ability to raise the dead.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — SECTION XXXIV. (part 2): not take Mt. 22, 15. Lk. 20, 20b. Mt. 22, 16. Mt. 22, 17. Mk. 12, 15a. Mt. 22, 18b. Mt. 22, 19. Mt. 22, 20. Mt. 22, 21. Lk. 20, 26. Mt. 22, 23. Mt. 22, 24. Mt. 22, 25. Lk. 20, 29b. Lk. 20, 30. Lk. 20, 31. Mt. 22, 27. Mt. 22, 28. Mt. 22, 29a. Mk. 12, 24b. Lk. 20, 34b. Lk. 20, 35. 96 34 19 Arabic, wives, and the women also do(1) not become the men's. Nor is it possible p. 130 that they should die; but they(2) are like the angels, and are the children of 20 God, because they have become the children of the r”