Luke 20:35 kjv
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 20:35 nkjv
But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
Luke 20:35 niv
But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,
Luke 20:35 esv
but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,
Luke 20:35 nlt
But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
Luke 20 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 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." | Qualities of resurrected, angel-like existence. |
| Mt 22:30 | "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." | Parallel passage, corroborates the truth. |
| Mk 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." | Parallel passage, consistent teaching. |
| 1 Cor 15:42-44 | "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." | Nature of the resurrected body (transformed). |
| Phil 3:20-21 | "...who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body..." | Transformation of our bodies in resurrection. |
| 1 Jn 3:2 | "...we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." | Becoming like Christ in a perfected state. |
| Heb 6:5 | "...have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come," | Foreshadowing of the eschatological age. |
| Eph 1:21 | "...and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" | The concept of "that world" (age to come). |
| Rom 8:20-21 | "For the creation was made subject to vanity... because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." | Creation's restoration and future glory. |
| Col 1:12 | "...giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:" | "Accounted worthy" - made fit/qualified by God. |
| 2 Thes 1:5-7 | "...That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God... when he shall come to be glorified in his saints..." | Worthiness for the kingdom and divine glory. |
| Rev 3:4 | "...they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." | Worthiness linked to purity and fellowship. |
| Rev 21:7 | "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be his son." | Those who overcome inherit, echoing worthiness. |
| Gen 1:28 | "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..." | Original purpose of marriage for procreation. |
| Gen 2:24 | "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." | Marital union in its earthly, covenantal context. |
| Matt 19:4-6 | "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female... no more twain, but one flesh." | Jesus upholding marriage for this age. |
| Rom 7:2-3 | "...For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband..." | Marriage covenant ending with death in this age. |
| Isa 25:8 | "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces..." | Resurrection conquers death; sorrow's end. |
| Rev 7:16 | "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat." | Description of a perfected state, needs met. |
| Jn 17:3 | "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." | Eternal life as a transformed knowing. |
| Lk 21:36 | "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." | Further use of "accounted worthy" for the End Times. |
Luke 20 verses
Luke 20 35 Meaning
The verse articulates a pivotal truth regarding the state of existence for those resurrected unto eternal life in the coming age. Jesus declares that individuals whom God has divinely deemed worthy to attain this future realm, specifically characterized by the resurrection from the dead, will experience a fundamental transformation. In this glorified state, the earthly institution of marriage is superseded; they will neither engage in marrying nor be given in marriage, indicating a radical shift in their mode of being that transcends present human biological and social structures.
Luke 20 35 Context
Luke chapter 20 narrates Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, where His authority and teachings are continuously challenged. This verse is embedded within Jesus' interaction with the Sadducees (Lk 20:27-40), a Jewish sect notable for their rejection of bodily resurrection, the existence of angels, and Pharisaic traditions. To ridicule the idea of resurrection, they presented Jesus with a hypothetical case based on the Mosaic Law of Levirate marriage (Deut 25:5-6), involving a woman who married seven brothers sequentially after each died without offspring. Their central question, "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?", aimed to expose what they considered an absurdity in believing in resurrection, implying an unworkable continuation of earthly social arrangements. Jesus' reply in this verse and the following profoundly corrects their misunderstanding, revealing their error as a result of their ignorance of both God's omnipotence and the true nature of the Scriptures concerning the age to come. His words move beyond merely answering their trap, offering deep insight into the transformed reality of resurrection life.
Luke 20 35 Word analysis
But (οἱ δὲ): This Greek particle indicates a strong contrast, differentiating the perspective of "this age" (Lk 20:34) from "that world" being discussed. It shifts the focus to those who participate in the resurrected future.
they which shall be accounted worthy (καταξιωθέντες): From the Greek kataxioō, meaning "to be deemed worthy" or "to be considered fit." This passive verb implies a divine act, signifying God's assessment and gracious enabling rather than human merit. It refers to those God chooses and prepares for this exalted state, typically through faith and adherence to His will, not as a means of earning salvation.
to obtain (τυχεῖν): Derived from tunchanō, meaning "to attain," "to get," or "to happen upon." It highlights the privilege and divine favor bestowed upon those who will experience this future reality.
that world (τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐκείνου): The Greek word aiōn denotes more than just a period of time; it signifies an "age" or "epoch" with its unique characteristics. "That world/age" points specifically to the eschatological age, the coming era of resurrection and glorification, sharply distinct from the current mortal "age" characterized by marriage and death.
and the resurrection from the dead (τῆς ἀναστάσεως τῆς ἐκ νεκρῶν): Anastasis precisely means "standing up again" and refers to the physical rising of the deceased. The phrase "from the dead" emphasizes emerging from the state of death. This is the very concept the Sadducees denied, which Jesus emphatically affirms as a central truth with unique qualities.
neither marry (οὔτε γαμοῦσιν): From the verb gameō, meaning "to marry," specifically referring to the man's role in taking a wife. The present tense indicates a continuous state or action. Its absence in the resurrected state signifies that the need or purpose for this earthly covenant no longer exists.
nor are given in marriage (οὔτε γαμίσκονται): From gamiskomai (or gamizomai in some manuscripts), meaning "to be given in marriage," traditionally referring to the woman's side (often arranged by parents). The passive voice confirms this specific aspect of marriage. The denial of both aspects conclusively establishes that the institution of marriage, as known in this world, is abolished for all resurrected persons.
Words-group analysis
- "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead": This full phrase precisely identifies the unique group in focus – those destined for and participating in the future, post-resurrection age. It underscores divine selection and enablement for entry into this transformed existence, emphasizing God's prerogative in determining who enters and what their characteristics will be. This "worth" signifies divine acceptance and equipping, a privilege graciously granted to His redeemed, rather than earned human merit.
- "neither marry, nor are given in marriage": This unequivocal declaration directly answers the Sadducees' misguided assumption. It profoundly illustrates the qualitative disparity between life in "this age" (Lk 20:34) and "that age." Marriage, being intrinsically linked to earthly procreation, social order, and companionship in a fallen world, serves its vital purpose in this life. However, it is entirely transcended in the perfect, eternal state, where ultimate relational fulfillment and the divine population of heaven operate on a different order, centered directly on God. This indicates a radical transformation where biological reproduction and conventional family structures become obsolete.
Luke 20 35 Bonus section
Jesus' response carries a strong polemic, not only discrediting the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection but also challenging their limited conception of God as one constrained by earthly conditions. Their core error, as parallel accounts confirm (Mt 22:29), was "not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." This verse also functions as an implicit critique against any materialistic or excessively anthropomorphic envisioning of heaven. It asserts that the post-resurrection reality is spiritual, qualitatively different, and far surpasses present human categories. The absence of marriage in the eschatological age underscores that the ultimate fulfillment in eternal life will be found in an unhindered, direct relationship with God, where His very presence and glory become the complete satisfaction of all desires. The ultimate union will be with Christ, in the fellowship of the redeemed, removing the need for conventional familial structures. This teaching greatly informs Christian understanding of glorification and the transformed identity of believers in the new heavens and new earth.
Luke 20 35 Commentary
Luke 20:35 provides a profound revelation concerning the nature of life after resurrection, directly countering the Sadducees' theological errors. Jesus unequivocally states that those divinely appointed to experience the future "age to come," characterized by resurrection, will exist in a transformed state where earthly marital bonds are no longer applicable. This truth does not diminish marriage as a sacred institution for the present age, which God established for companionship and procreation (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:4-6). Rather, it highlights the radical nature of eternal life. In that perfect, incorruptible existence (1 Cor 15:42-44), the needs and purposes met by marriage in this life are either superseded or fully satisfied by direct communion with God and by the glorified spiritual nature of those who are children of God (Lk 20:36). The "worthiness" mentioned is God's gracious assessment and qualification, not a result of human earning. In the resurrection, the redeemed will experience a deeper and more direct union with God and one another, rendering the earthly bond of marriage obsolete in that new divine order.