Mark 12:18-34

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and questioned Him:

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies , leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. ^[a]

20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying, left no offspring.

21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

22 The seven also^[b] left no 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?"^[d]

24 Jesus told them, "Are you not deceived because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God?

25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.

26 Now concerning the dead being raised-haven't you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob ? ^[e]

27 He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are badly deceived."

The Primary Commandments

28 One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"^[f]

29 "This is the most important," ^[g] Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. ^[h]

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ^{[i] [j]}

31 "The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. ^[k] There is no other commandment 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 one else except Him.

33 And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding,^[l] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more [important] than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to question Him any longer.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 38:8; Dt 25:5
• [b]. Other mss add had taken her and
• [c]. Other mss omit when they rise
• [d]. Lit the seven had her as a wife
• [e]. Ex 3:6,15-16
• [f]. Lit Which commandment is first of all?
• [g]. Other mss add of all the commandments
• [h]. Or The Lord our God is one Lord.
• [i]. Dt 6:4-5; Jos 22:5
• [j]. Other mss add This is the first commandment.
• [k]. Lv 19:18
• [l]. Other mss add with all your soul