13 aThen they *sent some of the Pharisees and bHerodians to Him in order to ctrap Him in a statement. 14 And they *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and 1defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it 2lawful to pay a tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a 1denarius to look at.”16 And they brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, “aRender to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they 1were amazed at Him.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
18 aThen some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that aif a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should1marry the wife and raise up a seed for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; and the first 1married a wife, and died leaving no 2seed. 21 And the second one 1married her, and died leaving behind no seed; and the third likewise; 22 and so 1all seven left no seed. Last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection, 1when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For 2all seven 3had married her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not 1understand 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 1regarding the fact that the dead are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, ain the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘bI am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?27 aHe is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
The Foremost Commandment
28 aAnd when one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, he brecognized that He had answered them well and asked Him, “What commandment is the 1foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘aHear, O Israel! The1Lord our God is one1Lord;30 aand you shall love the1Lord 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, ‘aYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”32 And the scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that aHe is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 aand to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, bis much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”aAfter that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions. 35 aAnd Jesus began to say, as He btaught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the 1Christ is the cson of David?36 David himself said 1in the Holy Spirit,
‘aThe2Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”’
37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And athe large crowd 1enjoyed listening to Him. 38 aAnd in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who want to walk around in long robes, and want brespectful greetings in the marketplaces,39 and best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,40 awho devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”