18 (A)Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to [a]Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (B)if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and does not leave a child, his brother is to [b]marry the wife and raise up [c]children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21 The second one [d]married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22 and so the seven together left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, which one’s wife will she be? For each of the seven had her as his wife.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not [e]understand the Scriptures nor 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 [f]regarding the fact that the dead rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, (C)in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘(D)I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 (E)He is not the God [g]of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

28 (F)One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and (G)recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the [h]foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The [i]foremost is, ‘(H)Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; 30 (I)and 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: ‘(J)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that (K)He is One, and there is no other besides Him; 33 (L)and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, (M)is much more than all the 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.” (N)And then, no one dared any longer to question Him.

35 (O)And Jesus responded and began saying, as He (P)taught in the temple area, “How is it that the scribes say that the [j]Christ is the (Q)son of David? 36 David himself said [k]in the Holy Spirit,

(R)The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And (S)the large crowd [l]enjoyed listening to Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:18 Lit Him
  2. Mark 12:19 Lit take
  3. Mark 12:19 Lit seed, also vv 20-22
  4. Mark 12:21 Lit took
  5. Mark 12:24 Or know
  6. Mark 12:26 Lit concerning the dead, that they rise
  7. Mark 12:27 Or of corpses
  8. Mark 12:28 Or first
  9. Mark 12:29 Or first
  10. Mark 12:35 I.e., Messiah
  11. Mark 12:36 Or by
  12. Mark 12:37 Lit was gladly hearing Him

Marriage at the Resurrection(A)

18 Then the Sadducees,(B) who say there is no resurrection,(C) 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.(D) 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[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(E) 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.(F) 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]?(G) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment(H)

28 One of the teachers of the law(I) 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](J) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[e](K) 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.(L) 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.”(M)

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

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(P)(Q)

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

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:23 Some manuscripts resurrection, when people rise from the dead,
  2. Mark 12:26 Exodus 3:6
  3. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  4. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  5. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18
  6. Mark 12:36 Psalm 110:1