In Mark 12:28–34, a scribe approaches Jesus with an important question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Among hundreds of Old Testament laws, this was a question many religious leaders debated. Jesus’ answer, however, cuts through the complexity and reveals the very heart of what God desires from His people.
Jesus begins by quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4–5: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.” Jesus declares that loving God completely is the greatest commandment. Notice the totality of this love. God does not simply ask for part of us—our Sunday mornings or occasional prayers. He calls for our whole being: our emotions, our thoughts, our will, and our energy.
Jesus then adds a second commandment from Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commands are inseparable. Our love for God naturally flows into love for others. It is impossible to claim deep devotion to God while harboring hatred, bitterness, or indifference toward people made in His image.
What is striking in this passage is the scribe’s response. Rather than arguing with Jesus, he agrees and recognizes that loving God and loving others is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. In other words, outward religious activity is empty if it is not driven by genuine love. Jesus commends the scribe, saying, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
This passage challenges us to examine our own spiritual lives. It is easy to focus on religious habits, traditions, or even ministry involvement while neglecting the central priority of loving God wholeheartedly. When our love for God grows, our love for people will follow. Worship becomes more sincere, service becomes more joyful, and forgiveness becomes more possible.
