19 · Words of Jesus

The Greatest Commandment

Mark 12:28–34

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Jesus speaks with a scribe before a listening group in a temple setting, in a respectful discussion about the greatest commandment.

A scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest.

Can love for God exclude love for neighbor?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A captures the order: Jesus begins with love for the one God but immediately joins it with love for one's neighbor. C captures Jesus' conclusion: “No other commandment is greater than these.” Although the question is singular, Jesus answers with two commandments that together receive a unique place.

19 · Mark 12:28–34

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Text & context

Full translation

28 One of the scribes came up and heard them discussing. Seeing that Jesus had answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is: Hear, 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. No other commandment is greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all one's heart and with all one's understanding and with all one's strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any further.

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
A scribe has heard Jesus debating with others and recognizes that Jesus has answered well. He asks which commandment is foremost. Jesus begins with “Hear, Israel,” from Deuteronomy 6:4–5, the Shema. God is to be loved with the whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus then adds Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He concludes that no other commandment is greater than these. The scribe agrees and says this love is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus tells him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Notice this

The scribe asks for one commandment. Jesus answers with two. He begins with love for God and continues: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Then he says: “No other commandment is greater than these.” The conversation also does not end in conflict. The scribe agrees with Jesus, and Jesus tells him: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Language & translation

From the Greek

ἄκουε Ἰσραήλ – akoue Israēl

Hear, Israel These words open the Shema. Akoue is an imperative of akouō, to hear or listen.

ἀγαπήσεις – agapēseis

you shall love From agapaō. The same verb is used for love of God and love of one's neighbor.

ἐξ ὅλης – ex holēs

with all / from the whole The expression recurs with heart, soul, mind, and strength, emphasizing comprehensive devotion to God.

διάνοια – dianoia

mind / understanding Mark explicitly includes the mind among the dimensions with which God is to be loved.

πλησίον – plēsion

neighbor The word can refer to one who is near or to one's fellow person.

οὐ μακρὰν εἶ ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ – ou makran ei apo tēs basileias tou theou

you are not far from the kingdom of God Jesus' words are positive but open-ended: he does not say the man is already in the kingdom, but that he is not far from it.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Read Mark 12:28–34 together with Deuteronomy 6:4–5 and Leviticus 19:18. Pay particular attention to:

  • akoue
  • agapaō
  • ex holēs
  • kardia
  • psychē
  • dianoia
  • ischys
  • plēsion
  • “not far from the kingdom of God”

Also compare Matthew 22:34–40 and Luke 10:25–28.

Continue the conversation

Discuss further
  1. Why does Jesus answer with two commandments when asked for the foremost one?
  2. What does it mean to love God with your mind?
  3. Does “love your neighbor as yourself” mean that you must first love yourself?
  4. Why does Jesus say the scribe is “not far” from God's kingdom?
Parallel passages
  • Deuteronomy 6:4–5
  • Leviticus 19:18
  • Matthew 22:34–40
  • Luke 10:25–28
Sources
  • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Michael W. Holmes, ed.
  • Mark 12:28–34
  • Deuteronomy 6:4–5
  • Leviticus 19:18
  • Matthew 22:34–40
  • Luke 10:25–28
  • Standard Greek lexical resources for akouō, agapaō, holos, kardia, psychē, dianoia, ischys, and plēsion