Mark 12:28-44

One of the religious teachers came and heard them arguing. He recognized that Jesus had given them a good answer. So he asked him, “Which is the most important commandment of all?” Jesus replied, “The first commandment is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your spirit, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There's no more important commandment than these.” “That's right, Teacher,” the man replied. “It's true as you said that God is one, and there is no other. We are to love him with all our heart, all our understanding, and all our strength, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is far more important than offerings and sacrifices.” Jesus saw that he gave a thoughtful answer, and said, “You're not far from the kingdom of God.” After this no one was brave enough to ask him any more questions. While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the religious teachers state that Christ is the son of David? David himself declared, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that the Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ Since David himself calls him Lord, how can he be David's son?” The large crowd listened to what Jesus said with great delight. Jesus continued to teach them, saying, “Beware of religious leaders! They love to walk around in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues, and the best places at banquets. They cheat widows out of what they own, and cover up the kind of people they really are with long-winded prayers. They will receive severe condemnation in the judgment.” Jesus sat down opposite the treasury collection box, watching people tossing in coins. Many of the rich were extravagantly throwing in a lot of money. Then a poor widow came along and put in just two small coins. He called his disciples together and told them, “I tell you the truth: this poor widow has put in more than all the rest together. All of them gave from their wealth what they had, but she gave from her poverty what she didn't have. She put in all she had to live on.”