Justin Houtz

Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

DateVersionReading Plan
November 2, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Mark 12

Observation & Interpretation

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important 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 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.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34 – ESV)

In confirming Jesus’ reference to Deuteronomy 6:5, the scribe mentions that one is to love “with all the understanding”. While this is not included in Jesus’ quote or the original OT text, Jesus still affirms the wisdom of the scribe by saying that he is not far from the kingdom of God (v. 34).

Application

The scribe understand and all believers in Christ ought the hierarchy of where we are to place our love. It is the sinful, disordered love of placing human relationships above God that is the cause of offense against Him and of many earthly troubles. May God’s people abide in this teaching so as to give Him pride of place in our lives.

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