Mark 12:21-31

21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.

22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 At the resurrection^[a] whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’^[b] ?

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

The Greatest Commandment

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[c]

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[d]

31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[e] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Cross References

• 1. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
• 2. 1Co 15:42,49,52
• 3. Exodus 3:6
• 4. Luke 10:25-28; Luke 20:39
• 5. Deuteronomy 6:4,5
• 6. Leviticus 19:18; S Matthew 5:43

Footnotes

• [a]. Some manuscripts "resurrection, when people rise from the dead,"
• [b]. Exodus 3:6
• [c]. Or "The Lord our God is one Lord"
• [d]. Deut. 6:4,5
• [e]. Lev. 19:18