15 aThen the Pharisees went and took counsel together about how they might trap Him 1in what He said. 16 And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the aHerodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and 1defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it 1lawful to give a atax to bCaesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?19 Show Me the acoin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a 1denarius. 20 And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”21 They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He *said to them, “aTherefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”22 And hearing this, they marveled, and aleaving Him, they went away.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
23 aOn that day some bSadducees (who say cthere is no resurrection) came to Jesus and asked Him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘aIf a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife and raise up a seed for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no 1seed, he left his wife to his brother; 26 so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. 27 And last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, anot 1understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.30 For in the resurrection they neither amarry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.31 But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,32 ‘aI am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”33 And when the crowds heard this,athey were astonished at His teaching.
The Foremost Commandment
34 aBut when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced bthe Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35 And one of them, aa scholar of the Law, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘aYou shall love the1Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the great and 1foremost commandment.39 And the second is like it, ‘aYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.’40 aOn these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” 41 aNow while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about 1the Christ, whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “aThe son of David.” 43 He *said to them, “Then how does David 1ain the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44
‘aThe1Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’?
45 Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”46 aAnd no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him 1another question.
20 aSo they watched Him, and sent spies who 1pretended to be righteous, so bthat they might 2catch Him in some statement, in order to deliver Him to the rule and the authority of cthe governor. 21 And they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You 1are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22 Is it 1lawful for us ato pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 “Show Me a 1denarius. Whose 2likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, “Then arender to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”26 And they were unable to 1acatch Him in a word in the presence of the people; and marveling at His answer, they became silent.
The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
27 aNow some of the bSadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him, 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that aif a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should1marry the wife and raise up2seed for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first married a wife and died childless, 30 and the second 31 and the third 1married her; and in the same way, 2all seven 3died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 Therefore, this woman—in the resurrection—whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as a wife.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of athis age marry and are given in marriage,35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to athat age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.36 For they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels and are asons of God, being sons of the resurrection.37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed in athe passage about the burning bush, where he calls the 1Lord bthe God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.38 aNow He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for ball live to Him.”39 And some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 For athey did not dare to question Him any longer about anything. 41 aThen He said to them, “How is it that they say the 1Christ is bDavid’s son?42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘aThe1Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
43
aUntil I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’
44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ so how is He his son?” 45 aAnd while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, awho want to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, and best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,47 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”