Mark 12:13-40

131Then they sent some of the Pharisees and 2Herodians to Him in order to 3trap Him in a statement. 14They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and 4defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it 5lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a 6denarius to look at.” 16They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17And Jesus said to them, “7Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they 8were amazed at Him.

189Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that 10if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should 11marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 20There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21The second one 12married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22and so 13all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. 23In the resurrection, 14when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For 15all seven had married her.” 24Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not 16understand the Scriptures or the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26But 17regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, 18in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘19I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 2720He is not the God 21of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

2822One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and 23recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the 24foremost of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘25Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 3026and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘27You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that 28He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 3329and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, 30is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 31After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

3532And Jesus began to say, as He 33taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that 34the Christ is the 35son of David? 36David himself said 36in the Holy Spirit, ‘37The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”’ 37David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And 38the large crowd 39enjoyed listening to Him.

3840In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like 41respectful greetings in the market places, 39and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 4042who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”