The Levirate Widow

The Levirate Widow
(Matthew 22: 23-33)

Within Jerusalem, conflicts with Pharisees fade while Sadducees and high priests become the antagonists. Amid such controversies as the concern for paying taxes (22:15–22), the question of the great commandment (22:34–40), and the issue of the Christ’s identity (22:41–46), Matthew includes the Sadducees’ question about levirate marriage at the resurrection (cf. Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40). Based on Deuteronomy 25:5, levirate marriage (from levir, Latin for brother-in-law) maintains that childless widows should marry their husband’s brother in order to bear a child to carry the dead husband’s name and inherit his estate…