Matthew 22:31 (ASV)

Passage

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:29 But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.

Matthew 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not [the God] of the dead, but of the living.

Matthew 22:33 And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "touching", "resurrection", "dead", "read", "spoken", and "saying". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "touching" and "resurrection", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "For in the resurrection they neither marry..." into verse 32's "I am the God of Abraham and...", so "touching" and "resurrection" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "touching" and "resurrection" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.