Mark 12

Question about Taxes Mark 12:13–17

¹³Verse 13. They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.¹⁴Verse 14. When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?¹⁵Verse 15. Shall we give, or shall we not give?”But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them,“Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”¹⁶Verse 16. They brought it.He said to them,“Whose is this image and inscription?”They said to him, “Caesar’s.”¹⁷Verse 17. Jesus answered them,“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”They marveled greatly at him.

Sadducees and the Resurrection Mark 12:18–27

¹⁸Verse 18. There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, ¹⁹Verse 19. “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ ²⁰Verse 20. There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. ²¹Verse 21. The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; ²²Verse 22. and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. ²³Verse 23. In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

²⁴Verse 24. Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God? ²⁵Verse 25. For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ²⁶Verse 26. But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? ²⁷Verse 27. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”

Greatest Commandments Mark 12:28–34

²⁸Verse 28. One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”²⁹Verse 29. Jesus answered,“The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:³⁰Verse 30. 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.’This is the first commandment.³¹Verse 31. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greater than these.”³²Verse 32. The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,³³Verse 33. and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”³⁴Verse 34. When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him,“You are not far from God’s Kingdom.”No one dared ask him any question after that.

Jesus Questions the Scribes Mark 12:35–40

³⁵Verse 35. Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple,“How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?³⁶Verse 36. For David himself said in the Holy Spirit,‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at my right hand,until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’³⁷Verse 37. Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?”The common people heard him gladly.³⁸Verse 38. In his teaching he said to them,“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,³⁹Verse 39. and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:⁴⁰Verse 40. those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow's Offering Mark 12:41–44

⁴¹Verse 41. Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. ⁴²Verse 42. A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. ⁴³Verse 43. He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, ⁴⁴Verse 44. for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”