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 4do not care what anyone thinks; for You 5are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God in truth. Is it 6permissible to pay a 7poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15Are we to pay, or not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a 8denarius to look at.” 16And they brought one. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17And Jesus said to them, “9Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at Him.

1810Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to 11Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that 12if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and does not leave a child, his brother is to 13marry the wife and raise up 14children for his brother. 20There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21The second one 15married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22and so the seven together left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23In the resurrection, which one’s wife will she be? For each of the seven had her as his wife.” 24Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not 16understand the Scriptures nor 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, 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, 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 up and heard them arguing, and 23recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the 24foremost of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The 25foremost is, ‘26Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; 3027and 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: ‘28You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that 29He is One, and there is no other besides Him; 3330and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, 31is much more than all the 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.” 32And then, no one dared any longer to question Him.

3533And Jesus responded and began saying, as He 34taught in the temple area, “How is it that the scribes say that the 35Christ is the 36son of David? 36David himself said 37in the Holy Spirit, ‘38The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ 37David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And 39the large crowd 40enjoyed listening to Him.

3841And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like 42personal greetings in the marketplaces, 39and seats of honor in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, 4043who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”