One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
In this passage from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem and has been answering a series of challenges from different groups of Jewish leaders. The chief priests, elders, Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees had all tried to test him with difficult questions (Mk. 11:27; 12:13; 12:18). Now a scribe, a scholar of the Law, approaches. Unlike some of the earlier exchanges, this one is more thoughtful. The scribe has been listening carefully and has seen how well Jesus answered the others. His question appears sincere: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” (v. 28).
At the time of Jesus, Jewish teachers recognized that the Law included the Ten Commandments as its foundation, but many other commandments found throughout the books of Moses, the Torah. They sometimes discussed which commandment was the greatest or which best expressed the heart of God’s will. The scribe’s question reflects that concern.
Jesus begins with the words, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!” (v. 29). He is quoting Deut. 6:4-5, the great confession of Israel’s faith. These words were central to Jewish prayer and reminded the people that the one true God alone is to be worshiped and obeyed. Jesus then gives the command that follows from that truth: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (v. 30). This means that love for God must involve the whole person. Nothing is to be held back.
Jesus does not stop there. He adds, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 31), quoting Lev. 19:18. In doing so, he shows that love of God and love of neighbor belong together. A person cannot claim to love God while refusing love to others. These two commandments express the heart of the law. During Lent, the Church calls us to return to what is most essential by turning back to God with our whole heart and by showing real charity toward others (Joel 2:12-13; Mt. 22:37-40).
The scribe recognizes the truth of Jesus’ answer. He repeats it in his own words and adds that such love “is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (v. 33). This reflects a theme already found in the Old Testament: God desires not empty religious action, but a faithful heart and a life shaped by obedience and mercy (1 Sm. 15:22; Hos. 6:6). The point is not that sacrifice had no place in Israel’s worship, but that outward acts of religion must be joined to inward love of God and neighbor.
Jesus sees that the scribe has answered wisely and says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (v. 34). That is a striking statement. The scribe is close because he has understood something fundamental. The law is not merely a list of rules. Its true meaning is found in a life ordered by love of God and love of neighbor.
This exchange also brings the public testing of Jesus to a close. Mark says, “And no one dared to ask him any more questions” (v. 34). Jesus has shown that he not only knows the law, but reveals its deepest meaning.
The passage remains important because it reminds us that true religion is not first about appearances or external performance. It begins with the total love of God, and from that love comes the duty to love other people. Where these two commandments are taken seriously, the purpose of the law is rightly understood..
Almighty God, grant us the grace to love You with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor with the same care and dignity that we desire for ourselves. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
____________________
Sources and References
- New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), Mk. 12:28-34 and notes.
- Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, commentary on Mk. 12:28-34, pp. 89-90.
- José María Casciaro, gen. ed., The Navarre Bible: New Testament, Expanded Edition (Dublin: Four Courts Press; New York: Scepter Publishers, 2008), commentary on Mk. 12:28-34, 209-210.
- Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, commentary on Mk. 12:28-34, p. 622, para. 79.
- Frank J. Matera and Daniel J. Harrington, eds., The Paulist Biblical Commentary, commentary on Mk. 12:28-34, p. 1013.
- John J. Collins et al., eds., The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century, commentary on Mk. 12:28-34, pp. 1274-1275.
Comments