The Primary Commands

28 One(A) of the scribes(B) approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important[a] is Listen, Israel! The Lord(C) our God, the Lord(D) is one.[b] 30 Love(E) the Lord your God(F) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,(G) and with all your strength.[c][d](H)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12:29 Other mss add of all the commands
  2. 12:29 Or the Lord our God is Lord alone.
  3. 12:30 Other mss add This is the first commandment.
  4. 12:30 Dt 6:4–5; Jos 22:5

The Greatest Commandment(A)

28 One of the teachers of the law(B) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  2. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5