Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 (A)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how (B)to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent (C)their disciples to him, along with (D)the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, (E)we know that you are true and teach (F)the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for (G)you are not swayed by appearances.[a] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay (H)taxes to (I)Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why (J)put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.[b] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, (K)“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they (L)left him and went away.

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

23 The same day (M)Sadducees came to him, (N)who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, (O)‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, (P)because you know neither the Scriptures nor (Q)the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither (R)marry nor (S)are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, (T)have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 (U)‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, (V)they were astonished at his teaching.

The Great Commandment

34 (W)But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced (X)the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 (Y)And one of them, (Z)a lawyer, asked him a question (AA)to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, (AB)“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And (AC)a second is like it: (AD)You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 (AE)On these two commandments depend (AF)all the Law and the Prophets.”

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 (AG)Now while the Pharisees (AH)were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about (AI)the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, (AJ)“The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, (AK)in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

44 (AL)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

45 If then David calls him Lord, (AM)how is he his son?” 46 (AN)And no one was able to answer him a word, (AO)nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:16 Greek for you do not look at people's faces
  2. Matthew 22:19 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](C) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(D) and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(E)

Marriage at the Resurrection(F)

23 That same day the Sadducees,(G) who say there is no resurrection,(H) came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.(I) 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures(J) or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;(K) they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[b]?(L) He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.(M)

The Greatest Commandment(N)

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,(O) the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law,(P) tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c](Q) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d](R) 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(S)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(T)

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,”(U) they replied.

43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

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

45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
  2. Matthew 22:32 Exodus 3:6
  3. Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
  4. Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18
  5. Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 (A)And they sent to him some of (B)the Pharisees and some of (C)the Herodians, to (D)trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, (E)we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For (F)you are not swayed by appearances,[a] but truly teach (G)the way of God. Is it lawful to pay (H)taxes to (I)Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing (J)their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why (K)put me to the test? Bring me (L)a denarius[b] and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, (M)“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

18 And (N)Sadducees came to him, (O)who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (P)if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man[c] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because (Q)you know neither the Scriptures nor (R)the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither (S)marry nor (T)are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, (U)have you not read in (V)the book of Moses, in (W)the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, (X)‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

The Great Commandment

28 (Y)And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, (Z)‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, (AA)the Lord is one. 30 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 (AB)The second is this: (AC)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment (AD)greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that (AE)he is one, and (AF)there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all (AG)the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, (AH)is much more than all (AI)whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (AJ)And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

35 (AK)And as (AL)Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that (AM)the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, (AN)in the Holy Spirit, declared,

(AO)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies (AP)under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So (AQ)how is he his son?” And the great throng (AR)heard him gladly.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:14 Greek you do not look at people's faces
  2. Mark 12:15 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  3. Mark 12:19 Greek his brother

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians(B) to Jesus to catch him(C) in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”(D)

And they were amazed at him.

Marriage at the Resurrection(E)

18 Then the Sadducees,(F) who say there is no resurrection,(G) 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.(H) 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[b] 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(I) 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.(J) 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’[c]?(K) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment(L)

28 One of the teachers of the law(M) 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.[d] 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.’[e](N) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f](O) 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.(P) 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.”(Q)

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

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(T)(U)

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

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
  2. Mark 12:23 Some manuscripts resurrection, when people rise from the dead,
  3. Mark 12:26 Exodus 3:6
  4. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  5. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  6. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18
  7. Mark 12:36 Psalm 110:1

20 (A)So they (B)watched him and sent spies, who (C)pretended to be sincere, that they might (D)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of (E)the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and (F)show no partiality,[a] but truly teach (G)the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give (H)tribute to (I)Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their (J)craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me (K)a denarius.[b] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then (L)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people (M)to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

27 There came to him (N)some Sadducees, (O)those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us (P)that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[c] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”

34 And Jesus said to them, (Q)“The sons of this age (R)marry and (S)are given in marriage, 35 but those who are (T)considered worthy to attain to (U)that age and to the resurrection from the dead (V)neither marry (W)nor are given in marriage, 36 for (X)they cannot die anymore, because they are (Y)equal to angels and (Z)are (AA)sons of God, being (AB)sons[d] of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, (AC)even Moses showed, in (AD)the passage about the bush, where he calls (AE)the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all (AF)live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes (AG)answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For (AH)they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 (AI)But he said to them, “How can they say that (AJ)the Christ is (AK)David's son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,

(AL)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43     until I make your enemies (AM)your footstool.”’

44 David thus calls him Lord, so (AN)how is he his son?”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:21 Greek and do not receive a face
  2. Luke 20:24 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  3. Luke 20:28 Greek his brother
  4. Luke 20:36 Greek huioi; see Preface

Paying Taxes to Caesar(A)

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(B) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(C) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(D) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(E) and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

The Resurrection and Marriage(F)

27 Some of the Sadducees,(G) who say there is no resurrection,(H) came to Jesus with a question. 28 “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.(I) 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come(J) and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children,(K) since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[a](L) 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.(M)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(N)

41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?(O) 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’[b](P)

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:37 Exodus 3:6
  2. Luke 20:43 Psalm 110:1