Some of the Sadducees came to Jesus. They say that people do not rise from death. They asked Jesus a question.
19`Teacher,' they said, `Moses gave us this law: if a man dies and leaves a wife but no children, then his brother must marry the wife and raise a family for his brother.
20There were seven brothers. The first one married. He died and left no child.
21e second brother married the wife. He also died and left no child. It was the same with the third one.
22All seven brothers married her. They all had no children. Last of all the woman died also.
23Now then when people rise from death, whose wife will she be? All seven of them had married her.'
24Jesus said to them, `You are wrong! You do not know what the holy writings say. And you do not know what power God has.
25When people rise from death, men and women do not marry. But they are like angels in heaven.
26People do rise from death! Have you never read what Moses wrote? It is in the place where we read about the small tree which burned. Moses tells how God said to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
27He is not the God of dead people, but of living people. The way you look at things is wrong altogether.'
28One of the scribes heard them talking. He saw that Jesus gave them a good answer. Then he came and asked, `Which law is the greatest law of all?'
29Jesus answered, `The greatest one is, "Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord.
30Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love him with all your soul. Love him with all your mind. And love him with all your strength."
31The second law is this: "Love your neighbour as you love yourself." No law is greater than these laws.'
32Then the scribe answered Jesus, `Teacher, what you say is right. There is one God. There are no other gods.
33Love God with all your heart. Love him with all your understanding. Love him with all your strength. That is much better than to burn offerings and make sacrifices. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. That is better than any of these offerings and sacrifices.'
34Jesus saw that the scribe was wise. So he said to him, `You are not far from the kingdom of God.' After that everyone feared to ask him any more questions.
