28 aOne of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and brecognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the 1foremost of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘aHear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;

30 aand 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, ‘aYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that aHe is One, and there is no one else besides Him;

33 aand to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, bis much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” aAfter that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.