Mark 12:13–44

GOD AND CAESAR

13 Thenar they sent some of the Phariseesas and the Herodiansat to Jesus to trap him in his words.au 14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partialityav but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxesaw to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

15 But knowing their hypocrisy,ax he said to them, “Why are you testingay me? Bring me a denariusE,az to look at.” 16 They brought a coin. “Whose image ba and inscription bb is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

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

THE SADDUCEES AND THE RESURRECTION

18 Sadducees,be who say there is no resurrection,bf came to him and questioned him: 19 “Teacher,a Mosesb wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child,c that man should take the wifed and raise up offspring for his brother.A,e 20 There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. 21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 None of the sevenB left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise,C whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”

24 Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scripturesf or the powerg of God?h 25 For when they risei from the dead,j they neither marry nor are given in marriagek but are like angelsl in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: Im am the God of Abrahamn and the God of Isaaco and the God of Jacob?D,p 27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”

THE PRIMARY COMMANDS

28 Oneq of the scribesr approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most importantE is Listen, Israel! The Lord s our God, the Lord t is one.F 30 Love u the Lord your God v with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, w and with all your strength.G,H ,x 31 The second is, Love your neighbor y as yourself.I,z There is no other commandaa greater than these.”

32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no oneab else except him.ac 33 And to lovead him with all your heart, with all your understanding,j and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”ae

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”af And no one daredag to question him any longer.

THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MESSIAH

35 Whileah Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked,ai “How can the scribesaj say that the Messiahak is the son of David?al 36 Davidam himself says by the Holy Spirit:an

The Lordao declared to my Lord,

‘Sit at my right handap

until I put your enemies under your feet.’A,aq

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

WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES

38 Hear also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robesas and who want greetings in the marketplaces,at 39 the best seatsau in the synagogues,av and the places of honoraw at banquets.ax 40 They devouray widows’az houses and say long prayersba just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

THE WIDOW’S GIFT

41 Sittingbb across from the temple treasury,bc he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many richbd people were putting in large sums. 42 Then a poorbe widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning his disciples,bf he said to them, “Truly I tell you,bg this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.bh 44 For they all gave out of their surplus,bi but she out of her povertybj has put in everything she hadbk—all she had to live on.”bl