Mark 12:18-34

Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

¹⁸ Sadducees,^(A) who say there is no resurrection,^(B) came to him and questioned him: ¹⁹ ‘Teacher,^(C) Moses^(D) wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child,^(E) that man should take the wife^(F) and raise up offspring for his brother.^{[a](G) 20} There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. ²¹ The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. ²² None of the seven^[b] left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. ²³ In the resurrection, when they rise,^[c] whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her? ’

²⁴ Jesus spoke to them, ‘Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures^(H) or the power^(I) of God?^{(J) 25} For when they rise^(K) from the dead,^(L) they neither marry nor are given in marriage^(M) but are like angels^(N) in heaven. ²⁶ And as for the dead being raised – haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I^(O) am the God of Abraham^(P) and the God of Isaac^(Q) and the God of Jacob?^{[d](R) 27} He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.’

The Primary Commands

²⁸ One^(S) of the scribes^(T) approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which command is the most important of all? ’

²⁹ Jesus answered, ‘The most important^[e] is Listen, Israel! The Lord^(U) our God, the Lord^(V) is one.^{[f] 30} Love^(W) the Lord your God^(X) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,^(Y) and with all your strength.^{[g][h](Z) 31} The second is, Love your neighbour^(AA) as yourself.^[i](AB) There is no other command^(AC) greater than these.’

³² Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one^(AD) else except him.^{(AE) 33} And to love^(AF) him with all your heart, with all your understanding,^[j] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.’^(AG)

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’^(AH) And no one dared^(AI) to question him any longer.