The Meaning of Luke 20:36 Explained

Luke 20:36

KJV: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

YLT: for neither are they able to die any more -- for they are like messengers -- and they are sons of God, being sons of the rising again.

Darby: for neither can they die any more, for they are equal to angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

ASV: for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Neither  can  they die  any more:  for  they are  equal unto the angels;  and  are  the children  of God,  being  the children  of the resurrection. 

What does Luke 20:36 Mean?

Study Notes

angels
.
Angel, Summary: Angel, "messenger," is used of God, of men, and of an order of created spiritual beings whose chief attributes are strength and wisdom. 2 Samuel 14:20 ; Psalms 103:20 ; Psalms 104:4 . In the O.T. the expression "the angel of the Lord" (sometimes "of God") usually implies the presence of Deity in angelic form.; Genesis 16:1-13 ; Genesis 21:17-19 ; Genesis 22:11-16 ; Genesis 31:11-13 ; Exodus 3:2-4 ; Judges 2:1 ; Judges 6:12-16 ; Judges 13:3-22 (See Scofield " Malachi 3:1 ") . The word "angel" is used of men in; Luke 7:24 ; James 2:25 ; Revelation 1:20 ; Revelation 2:1 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 2:12 ; Revelation 2:18 ; Revelation 3:1 ; Revelation 3:7 ; Revelation 3:14 In Revelation 8:3-5 . Christ is evidently meant. Sometimes angel is used of the spirit of man.; Matthew 18:10 ; Acts 12:15 . Though angels are spirits; Psalms 104:4 ; Hebrews 1:14 power is given them to become visible in the semblance of human form. Genesis 19:1 cf; Genesis 19:5 ; Exodus 3:2 ; Numbers 22:22-31 ; Judges 2:1 ; Judges 6:11 ; Judges 6:22 ; Judges 13:3 ; Judges 13:6 ; 1 Chronicles 21:16 ; 1 Chronicles 21:20 ; Matthew 1:20 ; Luke 1:26 ; John 20:12 ; Acts 7:30 ; Acts 12:7 ; Acts 12:8 etc.). The word is always used in the masculine gender, though sex, in the human sense, is never ascribed to angels.; Matthew 22:30 ; Mark 12:25 . They are exceedingly numerous.; Matthew 26:53 ; Hebrews 12:22 ; Revelation 5:11 ; Psalms 68:17 . The power is inconceivable. 2 Kings 19:35 . Their place is about the throne of God.; Revelation 5:11 ; Revelation 7:11 . Their relation to the believer is that of "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," and this ministry has reference largely to the physical safety and well-being of believers.; 1 Kings 19:5 ; Psalms 34:7 ; Psalms 91:11 ; Daniel 6:22 ; Matthew 2:13 ; Matthew 2:19 ; Matthew 4:11 ; Luke 22:43 ; Acts 5:19 ; Acts 12:7-10 . From; Hebrews 1:14 ; Matthew 18:10 ; Psalms 91:11 it would seem that this care for the heirs of salvation begins in infancy and continues through life. The angels observe us; 1 Corinthians 4:9 ; Ephesians 3:10 ; Ecclesiastes 5:6 a fact which should influence conduct. They receive departing saints. Luke 16:22 . Man is made "a little lower than the angels," and in incarnation Christ took "for a little "time" this lower place.; Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 8:5 ; Hebrews 2:6 ; Hebrews 2:9 that He might lift the believer into His own sphere above angels. Hebrews 2:9 ; Hebrews 2:10 . The angels are to accompany Christ in His second advent. Matthew 25:31 . To them will be committed the preparation of the judgment of the nations. Matthew 13:30 ; Matthew 13:39 ; Matthew 13:41 ; Matthew 13:42 . See Scofield " Matthew 25:32 ". The kingdom-age is not to be subject to angels, but to Christ and those for whom He was made a little lower than the angels. Hebrews 2:5 An archangel, Michael, is mentioned as having a particular relation to Israel and to the resurrections.; Daniel 10:13 ; Daniel 10:21 ; Daniel 12:1 ; Daniel 12:2 ; Judges 1:9 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 . The only other angel whose name is revealed Gabriel, was employed in the most distinguished services.; Daniel 8:16 ; Daniel 9:21 ; Luke 1:19 ; Luke 1:26 .
Fallen angels. Two classes of these are mentioned:
(1) "The angels which kept not their first estate place, but left their own habitation," are "chained under darkness," awaiting judgment. 2 Peter 2:4 ; Judges 1:6 ; 1 Corinthians 6:3 ; John 5:22 .
(See Scofield " Genesis 6:4 ")
(2) The angels who have Satan Genesis 3:1 as leader.
(See Scofield " Revelation 20:10 ") .
The origin of these is nowhere explicitly revealed. They may be identical with the demons.
(See Scofield " Matthew 7:22 ") . For Satan and his angels everlasting fire is prepared. Matthew 25:41 ; Revelation 20:10 .

Context Summary

Luke 20:27-40 - The God Of The Living
Here our Lord answers the materialism of His time. He speaks with the note of absolute certainty concerning the unseen, Hebrews 11:27. Its inhabitants do not die or marry, nor are they subject to the conditions of our earthly life. These are the children of the resurrection. What an inspiring title! May it be applied to us as in Colossians 3:1-4? Too many are "the sons of this age," Luke 20:34, r.v., margin! They adopt this transient earth as their foster parent! We cannot belong to both, though some, like Bunyan's waterman, row in one direction, while they look in another.
How wonderful to find a proof of immortality in that passage about the bush, Exodus 3:6! The fact that Jehovah said, "I am the God of Abraham," proved that the patriarch was in existence somewhere at that moment. Those whom we describe as dead are living people who have died. Death is but a passage, a step. There is no break in the chain of existence. Yonder and here all live unto God, Romans 14:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 20

1  Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism
9  The parable of the vineyard
19  Of giving tribute to Caesar
27  He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection
41  How Jesus is the Son of David
45  He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes

Greek Commentary for Luke 20:36

Equal unto the angels [ισαγγελοι]
A rare and late word from ισος — isos equal, and αγγελος — aggelos Only here in the N.T. Mark and Matthew have “as angels” Angels do not marry, there is no marriage in heaven. [source]
Sons of God, being sons of the resurrection [υιοι τεου της αναστασεως υιοι οντες]
This Hebraistic phrase, “sons of the resurrection” defines “sons of God” and is a direct answer to the Sadducees. [source]
Equal unto the angels [ἰσάγγελοι]
Only here in New Testament. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 20:36

Mark 12:25 As angels in heaven [ως αγγελοι εν τωι ουρανωι]
So Matthew 22:30. Luke 20:36 has “equal unto the angels” “Their equality with angels consists in their deliverance from mortality and its consequences” (Swete). The angels are directly created, not procreated. [source]
Luke 6:35 Sons of the Most High [υοι υπσιστου]
In Luke 1:32 Jesus is called “Son of the Highest” and here all real children or sons of God (Luke 20:36) are so termed. See also Luke 1:35, Luke 1:76 for the use of “the Highest” of God. He means the same thing that we see in Matthew 5:45, Matthew 5:48 by “your Father.”Toward the unthankful and evil (επι τους αχαριστους και πονηρους — epi tous acharistous kai ponērous). God the Father is kind towards the unkind and wicked. Note the one article with both adjectives. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 20:36 mean?

neither for to die any more are they able like [the] angels for they are and sons of God of the resurrection sons being
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται ἰσάγγελοι γάρ εἰσιν καὶ υἱοί Θεοῦ τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ ὄντες

οὐδὲ  neither 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐδέ  
Sense: but not, neither, nor, not even.
ἀποθανεῖν  to  die 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
ἔτι  any  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
δύνανται  are  they  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
ἰσάγγελοι  like  [the]  angels 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἰσάγγελος  
Sense: like the angels.
εἰσιν  they  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
υἱοί  sons 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀναστάσεως  resurrection 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀνάστασις  
Sense: a raising up, rising (e.
υἱοὶ  sons 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
ὄντες  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.