Mark 12:18-34

18Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him,

19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’

20There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children.

21The second married her and died without having children. So did the third.

22None of the seven brothers had any children. Last of all, the woman died.

23When the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her.”

24Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power?

25When the dead come back to life, they don’t marry. Rather, they are like the angels in heaven.

26Haven’t you read in the book of Moses that the dead come back to life? It’s in the passage about the bush, where God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’

27He’s not the God of the dead but of the living. You’re badly mistaken!”

28One of the experts in Moses’ Teachings went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of them all?”

29Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.

30So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

31The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

32The expert in Moses’ Teachings said to Jesus, “Teacher, that was well said! You’ve told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him!

33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, “You’re not too far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to ask him another question.