Mark 12:28–37

The Primary Commands

²⁸One ^oof the scribes ^papproached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, “Which command is the most important of all?” ^q

²⁹“This is the most important,” ^rJesus answered:

Listen, Israel! The Lord ^sour God, the Lord ^tis One. ^u30Love ^vthe Lord your God ^wwith all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, ^xand with all your strength. ^yza

³¹“The second is: Love your neighbor ^bas yourself. ^cdThere is no other command ^egreater than these.”

³²Then the scribe said to Him, “You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no one ^felse except Him. ^g33And to love ^hHim with all your heart, with all your understanding, ⁱand with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ^j

³⁴When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” ^kAnd no one dared ^lto question Him any longer.

The Question about the Messiah

³⁵So ^mJesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, ⁿ“How can the scribes ^osay that the ^•Messiah ^pis the Son of David? ^q36David ^rhimself says by the Holy Spirit: ^s

The Lord ^tdeclared to my Lord,

‘Sit at My right hand ^u

until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’ ^vw

³⁷David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son?” And the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.