Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 19:29

"And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples," — Luke 19:29 (ASV)

By linking Jesus’ approach to the city with the parable of the ten minas by means of “After Jesus said this,” Luke denies an immediate appearance of the kingdom and portrays the rejection of its ruler. Luke’s mention of Bethphage and Bethany locates where Jesus went. Bethany was, of course, important as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The Mount of Olives had a significant place in prophecy as the place of the coming Messiah’s appearance (Zechariah 14:4). Luke also stresses the dependability of the prophetic word (v.32; cf. 2:15, 20, 29).

This hypothetical case of a woman who had successively had seven husbands rests on the Jewish law described in Dt 25:5–6. It provided for the remarriage of a widow to the brother of a husband who died childless, the purpose of the remarriage being to provide descendants to carry on the deceased husband’s name. The Sadducees assumed that the idea of resurrection involves sexual reunion with one’s earthly partner(s).