Mark 12:13-40

Jesus Answers the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes

13 ¹Then they sent some of the Pharisees and ²Herodians to Him in order to ³trap Him in a statement.

14 They came and said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial * to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?

15 "Shall we pay or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at."

16 They brought one. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's."

17 And Jesus said to them, "⁴Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him.

18 ⁵Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection ) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying,

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that ⁶IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER.

20 "There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children.

21 "The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise;

22 and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also.

23 "In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her."

24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand 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 "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, ⁷in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, '⁸I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob '?

27 "⁹He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken."

28 ¹⁰One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and ¹¹recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"

29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, '¹²HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

30 ¹³AND 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.'

31 "The second is this, '¹⁴YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32 The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly * stated that ¹⁵HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;

33 ¹⁶AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, ¹⁷is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." ¹⁸After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

35 ¹⁹And Jesus began to say, as He ²⁰taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the ²¹son of David?

36 "David himself said in the Holy Spirit, '²²THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET."'

37 "David himself calls Him 'Lord '; so in what sense is He his son?" And ²³the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.

38 ²⁴In His teaching He was saying: "Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like ²⁵respectful greetings in the market places,

39 and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,

40 ²⁶who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."

Cross References

• 1. Mark 12:13-17: {Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26}
• 2. Matthew 22:16
• 3. Luke 11:54
• 4. Matthew 22:21
• 5. Mark 12:18-27: {Matthew 22:23-33; Luke 20:27-38;} Acts 23:8
• 6. Deuteronomy 25:5
• 7. Luke 20:37; Romans 11:2
• 8. Exodus 3:6
• 9. Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:38
• 10. Mark 12:28-34: {Matthew 22:34-40;} Luke 10:25-28; Luke 20:39
• 11. Matthew 22:34; Luke 20:39
• 12. Deuteronomy 6:4
• 13. Deuteronomy 6:5
• 14. Leviticus 19:18
• 15. Deuteronomy 4:35
• 16. Deuteronomy 6:5
• 17. 1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7
• 18. Matthew 22:46
• 19. Mark 12:35-37: {Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44}
• 20. Matthew 26:55; Mark 10:1
• 21. Matthew 9:27
• 22. Psalms 110:1
• 23. John 12:9
• 24. Mark 12:38-40: {Matthew 23:1-7; Luke 20:45-47}
• 25. Matthew 23:7; Luke 11:43
• 26. Luke 20:47

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "it is not a concern to You about anyone;" i.e. You do not seek anyone's favor
• [b]. Or "permissible"
• [c]. The denarius was a day's wages
• [d]. Or "were greatly marveling"
• [e]. Lit "take"
• [f]. Lit "took"
• [g]. Lit "the seven"
• [h]. Early mss do not contain "when they rise again"
• [i]. Lit "the seven"
• [j]. Or "know"
• [k]. Lit "concerning the dead, that they rise"
• [l]. Or "of corpses"
• [m]. Or "first"
• [n]. I.e. the Messiah
• [o]. Or "by"
• [p]. Lit "was gladly hearing Him"