Matthew 22:25 (DRB)

Passage

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first having married a wife, died; and not having issue, left his wife to his brother.

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:23 That day there came to him the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and asked him,

Matthew 22:24 Saying: Master, Moses said: If a man die having no son, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up issue to his brother.

Matthew 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first having married a wife, died; and not having issue, left his wife to his brother.

Matthew 22:26 In like manner the second and the third and so on, to the seventh.

Matthew 22:27 And last of all the woman died also.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seven", "brethren", "first", "having", "married", "wife", and "died". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seven" and "brethren", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "Saying Master Moses said If a man..." into verse 26's "In like manner the second and the...", so "seven" and "brethren" 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 "seven" and "brethren" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.