THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

Passage: Mark 12:28-34

Key verse: 30

NIV

The Greatest Commandment(A)

28 One of the teachers of the law(B) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b](C) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c](D) There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.(E) 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(F)

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”(G) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.(H)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  2. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  3. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Great Commandment

28 (A)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, (B)‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, (C)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 (D)The second is this: (E)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment (F)greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that (G)he is one, and (H)there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all (I)the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, (J)is much more than all (K)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.” (L)And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The most important commandment (28-31)

The lawyer who asked Jesus which commandment was most important was sincere. Jesus' answer is in three parts: First, the Lord our God is one. I must worship God alone. He does not accept worship from a divided, idolatrous heart. Second, I must love him with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Third, I must love my neighbors. My thoughts and affections must be filled with love for God; my soul must be his dwelling place; my strength must be used for him--for his work and his glory. If I love God with all my heart, how can I have any left over for my neighbor--or for my spouse or children? God's arithmetic is different from man's; only if I love God can I overcome my selfishness and really love my family, friends and neighbors.

2. You are not far from the kingdom (32-34)

The teacher of the law accepted Jesus' words. He knew that loving God and loving one's neighbor was more important than religious ritual.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love you more, so that I can love others rightly.

One Word: Love God; love your neighbor