New Testament · Gospel

Mark 12:23

The Widow's Offering

In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.” Mark 12:23 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Mark 12:23, in plain English

Then they asked their big question: 'In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? After all, she was married to all seven of them.'

Why it's here

They thought this was an unanswerable riddle. But the question says more about their limited view of eternity than about any real problem with resurrection.

Who's speaking

The Sadducees present their challenge question to Jesus.

Where it sits in the story

They leaned in, probably smiling, sure they had finally stumped Him. Spoiler: they hadn't.

A Closer Look

The scholar's commentary

The Sadducees pose their trap question: 'whose wife will she be?' — assuming resurrection simply extends earthly social structures into the afterlife.

Language and setting

Their argument rests on a flawed premise: that resurrected life mirrors earthly life. Jesus will challenge this foundational assumption rather than answer within their framework.

Voice

The Sadducees deliver the punchline of their riddle to Jesus.

Significance

The question is presented as a logical knockout blow, but it reveals more about the Sadducees' limited imagination regarding God's power than about any flaw in resurrection theology.

In context

Mark 12:21–25

21Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.

22In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.

23In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

24Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.

Read all of Mark 12 — Trick questions from every direction, a scribe who almost gets it, and a poor widow who gives everything — two small coins that outweigh them all.

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