Mark 12:28-34 (NKJV) The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?
(Matt. 22:34–40; Luke 10:25–28)
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments 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, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.
V28 “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” It seems that this question was genuine but might have been a gotcha question. It is fair to examine what is the most important law. Scribes studied and taught the Mosaic Law.
V29 “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.” God makes it clear that there are no other gods. The one and only God of the Bible condemns idolatry more than any other sin (Deuteronomy 7:25, 2 Kings 23:24, Ezekiel 5:9-11, and Ezekiel 6:4).
There is no divine counsel of gods. There is only one God…period.
The Bible teaches there is only one God. There are not gods, just one God. There are supernatural beings, but only one God. There are no gods.
Some verses mentioning this
Number 16:22
Deuteronomy 4:35, 4:39, 32:37, and 32:39
2 Samuel 7:23
2 Kings 19:15
2 Chronicles 17:20
Psalm 86:10
Isaiah 37:16, 43:10, 44:6, 44:8, 45:5, 6, 18, 21, 22
Mark 12:29
1 Corinthians 8:4, 6
Ephesians 4:6
1 Timothy 2:5
V30 “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Our love is measured by our obedience (John 14:15). Our love for God is seen in the way we think, talk, act in public and private, with friends or enemies, if in peace or threatened.
V31 “And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Love is the same here, but there are priorities. The traits of love are found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a “4 Love is very patient and kind; love doesn’t envy; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 doesn’t behave improperly, doesn’t insist on its own way; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t consider evil, 6 doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends…”
Our neighbor is anyone living close to us and/or anyone we meet. See Luke 10:25-37.
V32 “So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.” The scribe agrees. Jesus spoke the truth.
V33 “And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” We are to love God in body (what we do), mind (thinking and decision making), soul (emotions and character traits), and study. Our love for our fellow humans should be in firm gentleness and kindness.
V34 “Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.” Jesus perceived that this scribe’s answer was genuine. He knew but knew he had to believe.
What we say is important but must be lived and practiced in faith. Israel often missed the mark. Hebrews 4:2-3 (NKJV) “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
We learn:
- About God’s love.
- How our love should be towards God and humans.
- God doesn’t mind honest questions.
Questions:
- How is our faith?
- How is our obedience?
- How is our love?