Mark 12:28–34 (ESV)
The Great Commandment
28
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, ‘Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God, 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 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There
is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and
with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all 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.” And
after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
A scribe asked a question and Jesus answered it so clearly that no one dared to ask him any more questions. The Lutheran Study Bible states:
“Jesus challenges an expert in the Scriptures to consider the entire Law and to turn to the Lord in faith. Only Jesus has kept the entire Law perfectly. He did this for our salvation, due to His surpassing love for us.”
I pray: O Lord, these commandments are hard, no impossible to carry out. I fall short in the first and the second greatest commandment. Continue to mold me and shape me according to your will. I repent and
want to do better. Amen.