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28 Then one of the scribes [an expert in Mosaic Law] came up and listened to them arguing [with one another], and noticing that Jesus answered them well, asked Him, “Which commandment is first and most important of all?”(A) 29 Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’(B) 31 This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] [a]love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”(C) 32 The scribe said to Him, “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that He is One, and there is no other but Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to [unselfishly] love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(D) 34 When Jesus saw that he answered thoughtfully and intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:31 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.

28 And kai one heis of the ho scribes grammateus came proserchomai up and heard akouō them autos disputing syzēteō. Seeing how hoti well kalōs Jesus had answered apokrinomai them autos, he put this question eperōtaō to him autos: “ Which poios commandment entolē is eimi the most important prōtos of all pas?” 29 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai, · ho “The most important prōtos is eimi, ‘ Hear akouō, Israel Israēl, the Lord kyrios · ho our hēmeis God theos, the Lord kyrios is eimi one heis; 30 and kai you shall love agapaō the Lord kyrios · ho your sy God theos with ek your sy whole holos · ho heart kardia, and kai with ek your sy whole holos · ho life psychē, and kai with ek your sy whole holos · ho mind dianoia, and kai with ek your sy whole holos · ho strength ischus.’ 31 The second deuteros is this houtos: ‘ You shall love agapaō · ho your sy neighbor plēsion as hōs yourself seautou.’ There is eimi no ou other allos commandment entolē greater megas than these houtos.” 32 And kai the ho scribe grammateus said legō to him autos, “ Well kalōs said, teacher didaskalos. You have spoken legō truthfully epi alētheia; ‘ he is eimi one heis, and kai there is eimi no ou other allos besides plēn him autos.’ 33 And kai · ho to love agapaō him autos with ek the ho whole holos heart kardia, and kai with ek the ho whole holos understanding synesis, and kai with ek the ho whole holos strength ischus,’ and kai · ho to love agapaō one’ s ho neighbor plēsion as hōs oneself heautou,’ is eimi much perissoteros more than all pas · ho whole burnt offerings holokautōma and kai sacrifices thusia.” 34 And kai · ho Jesus Iēsous, seeing that hoti the scribe had answered apokrinomai wisely nounechōs, said legō to him autos, “ You are eimi not ou far makran from apo the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos.” And kai no one oudeis dared tolmaō to question eperōtaō him autos any more ouketi.

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