Can a Christian marry his deceased brother's wife? Matthew 22:24 (KJV) Saying, "Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother."


In general do Christians believe it is OK to marry the wife of a deceased brother? How about if she has already children from the first marriage?
The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England has a Table of Kindred and Affinity which lays down prohibited degress of relationship where a marriage may not be contracted. A similar table is included in the doctrinal books of other Anglican Churches.

Marrying a husband's brother is not prohibited, possibly because it was advocated in the bible. Marrying a husband's son is prohibited, even though there would be no blood relationship between the son and his step-mother.

Catholic Canon Law (Canons 1091–1094) uses descriptions of what prohibits marriage, rather than individual workings-out of those impeding relationships as the Reformation Church of England did. It appears to me that the effect of the Canons produces a table very similar to the Church of England's.

In the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church, the question of whether a woman already has children from a previous marriage is immaterial in deciding whether it is permissible for her to marry another man. Once a marriage is ended by death, it is indisputably over.