Matthew 22:25 (KJV)

Passage

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

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

Matthew 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Matthew 22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seven", "brethren", "first", "married", "wife", "deceased", "having", and "issue". 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 "Likewise the second also and the third...", 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.