Mark 12:13-17

Common English Bible

A question about taxes

¹³They sent some of the Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap him in his words. ¹⁴They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you’re genuine and you don’t worry about what people think. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay taxes or not?”

¹⁵Since Jesus recognized their deceit, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a coin. Show it to me.” ¹⁶And they brought one. He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

¹⁷Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” His reply left them overcome with wonder.

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Mark 12:28-34

Common English Bible

God’s most important command

²⁸One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

²⁹Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, ³⁰and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength.^[a] ³¹The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself.^[b] No other commandment is greater than these.”

³²The legal expert said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have truthfully said that God is one and there is no other besides him. ³³And to love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴When Jesus saw that he had answered with wisdom, he said to him, “You aren’t far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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