The Greatest Commandment(A)

28 One of the teachers of the law(B) 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.[a] 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.’[b](C) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c](D) There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.(E) 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(F)

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”(G) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.(H)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(I)(J)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts,(K) he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?(L) 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit,(M) declared:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’[d](N)

37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

The large crowd(O) listened to him with delight.

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(P) 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering(Q)

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put(R) and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”(S)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(T)

13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”(U)

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives(V) opposite the temple, Peter, James, John(W) and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”

Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.(X) Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues.(Y) On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.(Z)

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.(AA) 13 Everyone will hate you because of me,(AB) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  2. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  3. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18
  4. Mark 12:36 Psalm 110:1

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

13 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?(A)

28 (B)Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, [a]perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the [b]first commandment of all?”

29 Jesus answered him, “The [c]first of all the commandments is: (C)‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall (D)love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ [d]This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: (E)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than (F)these.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, (G)and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, [e]with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, (H)is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

(I)But after that no one dared question Him.

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?(J)

35 (K)Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said (L)by the Holy Spirit:

(M)‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his (N)Son?”

And the common people heard Him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes(O)

38 Then (P)He said to them in His teaching, (Q)“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, (R)love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the (S)best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 (T)who devour widows’ houses, and [f]for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Two Mites(U)

41 (V)Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money (W)into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two [g]mites, which make a [h]quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that (X)this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, (Y)her whole livelihood.”

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple(Z)

13 Then (AA)as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? (AB)Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age(AC)

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, (AD)Peter, (AE)James, (AF)John, and (AG)Andrew asked Him privately, (AH)“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

And Jesus, answering them, began to say: (AI)“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and (AJ)kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines [i]and troubles. (AK)These are the beginnings of [j]sorrows.

“But (AL)watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will [k]be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And (AM)the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 (AN)But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, [l]or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, (AO)but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now (AP)brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 (AQ)And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But (AR)he who [m]endures to the end shall be saved.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:28 NU seeing
  2. Mark 12:28 foremost
  3. Mark 12:29 foremost
  4. Mark 12:30 NU omits the rest of v. 30.
  5. Mark 12:33 NU omits with all the soul
  6. Mark 12:40 for appearance’ sake
  7. Mark 12:42 Gr. lepta, very small copper coins
  8. Mark 12:42 A Roman coin
  9. Mark 13:8 NU omits and troubles
  10. Mark 13:8 Lit. birth pangs
  11. Mark 13:9 NU, M stand
  12. Mark 13:11 NU omits or premeditate
  13. Mark 13:13 bears patiently