Mark 12:28-44

Christian Standard Bible

The Primary Commands

²⁸ One^(A) of the scribes^(B) 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^[a] is Listen, Israel! The Lord^(C) our God, the Lord^(D) is one.^{[b] 30} Love^(E) the Lord your God^(F) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,^(G) and with all your strength.^{[c][d](H) 31} The second is, Love your neighbor^(I) as yourself.^[e](J) There is no other command^(K) 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^(L) else except him.^{(M) 33} And to love^(N) him with all your heart, with all your understanding,^[f] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(O)

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

The Question about the Messiah

³⁵ While^(R) Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked,^(S) “How can the scribes^(T) say that the Messiah^(U) is the son of David?^{(V) 36} David^(W) himself says by the Holy Spirit: ^(X)

³⁷ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Warning against the Scribes

³⁸ He^(AB) also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes^(AC) and who want greetings in the marketplaces,^{(AD) 39} the best seats^(AE) in the synagogues,^(AF) and the places of honor^(AG) at banquets.^{(AH) 40} They devour^(AI) widows’^(AJ) houses and say long prayers^(AK) just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

The Widow’s Gift

⁴¹ Sitting^(AL) across from the temple treasury,^(AM) he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich^(AN) people were putting in large sums. ⁴² Then a poor^(AO) widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. ⁴³ Summoning his disciples,^(AP) he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(AQ) this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.^{(AR) 44} For they all gave out of their surplus,^(AS) but she out of her poverty^(AT) has put in everything she had^(AU) —all she had to live on.”^(AV)