Mark 12:32-42

32 The teacher of the Law said to Jesus, "Well done, Teacher! It is true, as you say, that only the Lord is God and that there is no other god but he. 1
33 And you must love God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength; and you must love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is more important to obey these two commandments than to offer on the altar animals and other sacrifices to God." 2
34 Jesus noticed how wise his answer was, and so he told him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." 3 After this nobody dared to ask Jesus any more questions.
35 As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked the question, "How can the teachers of the Law say that the Messiah will be the descendant of David?
36 The Holy Spirit inspired David to say: 4 "The Lord said to my Lord: Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies under your feet.'
37 David himself called him "Lord'; so how can the Messiah be David's descendant?" A large crowd was listening to Jesus gladly.
38 As he taught them, he said, "Watch out for the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace,
39 who choose the reserved seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts.
40 They take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes, and then make a show of saying long prayers. Their punishment will be all the worse!"
41 As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money;
42 then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny.

Cross References 4

  • 1. 12.32Deuteronomy 4.35.
  • 2. 12.33Hosea 6.6.
  • 3. 12.28-34Luke 10.25-28.
  • 4. 12.36Psalms 110.1.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.