Mark 12:13-40

13Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to trap him with his own words.

14When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

15But he saw through their hypocrisy and said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”

16So they brought one, and he said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.”

17Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

18Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) also came to him and asked him,

19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us: ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’

20There were seven brothers. The first one married, and when he died he had no children.

21The second married her and died without any children, and likewise the third.

22None of the seven had children. Finally, the woman died too.

23In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”

24Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you deceived for this reason, because you don’t know 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.

26Now as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

27He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

28Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

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

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

31The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him.

33And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Then no one dared any longer to question him.

35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, “How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is David’s son?

36David himself, by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

38In his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces,

39and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

40They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”