God and Caesar

13 Then(A) they sent some of the Pharisees(B) and the Herodians(C) to Him to trap Him by what He said.[a](D) 14 When they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality[b](E) but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes(F) to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay, or should we not pay?”

But knowing their hypocrisy,(G) He said to them, “Why are you testing(H) Me? Bring Me a denarius(I) to look at.” 16 So they brought one. “Whose image(J) and inscription(K) is this?” He asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they said.

17 Then Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”(L) And they were amazed(M) at Him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

18 Some(N) Sadducees,(O) who say there is no resurrection,(P) came to Him and questioned Him: 19 “Teacher,(Q) Moses(R) wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child,(S) his brother should take the wife(T) and produce offspring for his brother.(U)[c] 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 So the seven[d] left no offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise,[e] whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”[f]

24 Jesus told them, “Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures(V) or the power(W) of God?(X) 25 For when they rise(Y) from the dead,(Z) they neither marry nor are given in marriage(AA) but are like angels(AB) 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(AC) am the God of Abraham(AD) and the God of Isaac(AE) and the God of Jacob?(AF)[g] 27 He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are badly deceived.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:13 Lit trap Him in (a) word
  2. Mark 12:14 Lit don’t look on the face of men; that is, on the outward appearance
  3. Mark 12:19 Gn 38:8; Dt 25:5
  4. Mark 12:22 Other mss add had taken her and
  5. Mark 12:23 Other mss omit when they rise
  6. Mark 12:23 Lit the seven had her as a wife
  7. Mark 12:26 Ex 3:6,15-16

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians(B) to Jesus to catch him(C) in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”(D)

And they were amazed at him.

Marriage at the Resurrection(E)

18 Then the Sadducees,(F) who say there is no resurrection,(G) came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(H) 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 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[b] 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(I) 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.(J) 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’[c]?(K) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
  2. Mark 12:23 Some manuscripts resurrection, when people rise from the dead,
  3. Mark 12:26 Exodus 3:6