The Greatest Commandment
Love God, and love your neighbor
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
In the temple courts, a scribe asked Jesus which commandment is the most important. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength," and second, "Love your neighbor as yourself." The scribe agreed, and Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
Where it is in the Bible: Mark 12:28-34
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. It is a few days before he dies.
- A scribe: A teacher of God's law. He has been listening to Jesus.
Setting
- The temple courts in Jerusalem.
When
- Holy Week, about 2,000 years ago, a few days before Jesus was crucified.
Before the Story
Jesus had come into Jerusalem. Crowds shouted, "Hosanna!" (11:9).
Leaders were trying to trap Jesus. They asked him tricky questions about taxes and the resurrection (12:13-27).
God's law had many commandments. Teachers counted 613 commands in the first five books of the Bible. They often discussed which ones mattered most.
God's people prayed a famous prayer every day. It begins, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4). It is called the Shema, from the Hebrew word for "hear."
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A good question | 12:28 | A scribe asks which commandment is most important |
| 2. Love God | 12:29-30 | Jesus gives the first answer |
| 3. Love your neighbor | 12:31 | Jesus gives the second |
| 4. "Not far" | 12:32-34 | The scribe agrees, and Jesus answers him |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4A Good Question
One of the scribes came up. He had heard Jesus answering the leaders' questions, and he saw that Jesus answered well.
So he asked Jesus, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (12:28).
Unlike the others, he wasn't trying to trap Jesus. He really wanted to know.
Scene 2 of 4Love God
Jesus answered with words from the prayer every Jewish person knew.
"This is the most important: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" (12:29-30).
Heart, soul, mind, and strength means all of you: your feelings, your life, your thinking, and your doing.
Scene 3 of 4Love Your Neighbor
Then Jesus gave a second commandment, even though the man had asked for one.
"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these" (12:31).
Your neighbor is anyone near you who needs your love.
Scene 4 of 4"Not Far"
"Right, Teacher," the scribe said (12:32). He agreed that God is one, and that loving God and neighbor is more important than all the offerings and sacrifices in the temple.
Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely.
"You are not far from the kingdom of God" (12:34).
After that, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (12:28) | The scribe wanted to know what God cares about most. |
| "The Lord is One" (12:29) | There is one true God. |
| "With all your heart... soul... mind... strength" (12:30) | God asks for all of you, not just part. |
| "Love your neighbor as yourself" (12:31) | Loving God and loving people go together. |
| "More important than all burnt offerings" (12:33) | God wants love more than ceremonies. |
| "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (12:34) | The man understood a lot. But he was not yet there. The way into the kingdom is Jesus himself. |
Back Then
Jesus quoted two books of the law. The first command is from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The second is from Leviticus 19:18.
Scribes were experts in God's law. They copied the Scriptures and taught what they meant.
Matthew and Luke tell similar stories. In Matthew, a lawyer asks the question to test Jesus (Matthew 22:34-40). In Luke, an expert asks it, and Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
Literal Reader Alert
Does "love your neighbor as yourself" mean I have to love myself first? Jesus assumes people already take care of themselves. He is saying: give others that same care.
Can anyone keep these two commandments perfectly? No one but Jesus. These commands show how much we fall short, and how much we need him. Jesus loved God and his neighbor perfectly, all the way to the cross, for us.
Why was the man "not far," but not in? Knowing the right answer is not the same as trusting Jesus. The kingdom of God was standing right in front of him, in Jesus.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The scribe | Impressed | Jesus answered the others well (12:28) |
| The scribe | Thoughtful | He agreed with Jesus's answer (12:32-33) |
| Jesus | Pleased | The man answered wisely (12:34) |
| The crowd | Quiet | No one dared to ask anything more (12:34) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which commandment is harder for you? Tap one.
Loving God
Loving God with everything is hard. Start by trusting that he loves you first.
Loving my neighbor
Some people are hard to love. Jesus loved his enemies, and he can help you.
Both, honestly
That's true for everyone. That's why we need Jesus, who kept both for us.
I'm not far
Like the scribe? The kingdom is right in front of you, in Jesus.
You Might Have Heard
"As long as you love God and other people, you're a good person and God will accept you."
What's true: Loving God and our neighbor is what God wants most. Jesus said so.
What the story is mainly about: No one does this perfectly. The commandments show us our need. Jesus is the one who loved God and neighbor perfectly. He gives that to us as a gift. Then his love begins to grow in us.
Where Jesus is: In the temple courts, a few days before he would love God and his neighbors with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, on the cross.
Good News
Jesus said, "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself." Then he went and did it.
"No other commandment is greater than these" (12:31).
Jesus kept these commandments for us, perfectly. He gave his life out of love for his Father and for us. When we fall short, he forgives us. Then he teaches us to love.
Jesus loved God and his neighbors perfectly, for us. His love comes first, and it teaches us to love.
Big Idea
The greatest commandments are to love God with everything and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus kept them perfectly, for us.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, every explanation of the Ten Commandments begins the same way: "We should fear and love God." Luther taught that the Ten Commandments are all about these two great commands: loving God and loving our neighbor.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Mark 12:28-34 in Year B (Lectionary 31). Matthew's version, Matthew 22:34-46, is read in Year A (Lectionary 30).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
How did that feel?
You finished The Greatest Commandment.
Using this at church
Read in church on
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The Greatest Commandment, explained in plain words. A teacher of the law asks which commandment matters most. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-greatest-commandment/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church