NOTES for Mar 12:29-31

Christ's answer to the scribe's question about the greatest commandment in the law has fundamental importance for the New Covenant. The question itself reflects the heated debates taking place among the Jews during the Savior's earthly life. Some of them believed that in the law every commandment without exception has decisive importance, and that among them there are none more or less important. From this point of view, the one who sins against one commandment becomes a violator of the whole law. This view found expression, in particular, in the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans. Those who held this position believed that the law as such was given by God and therefore is holy. Yet it is hard to consider equally important, on the one hand, the commandments "I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods" and "you shall not kill," and on the other hand, the commandments "do not spoil the edges of your beard" and the commandment about the need to relieve oneself outside the camp.

Other Jews, on the contrary, considered the commandments of the Sinai covenant far from equal. The answer of Rabbi Hillel to a Gentile who wished to know the essence of Judaism briefly, "while standing on one foot," is well known. Hillel told him: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; this is the whole law, the rest is only its explanation." The Lord Jesus' answer evidently supports this latter point of view. Yet there is a significant difference between the positions of Christ and His older contemporary Hillel.

Unlike the learned rabbi, the Son of God formulates two chief commandments, placing first the commandment to love God. Moreover, the Lord expresses both chief commandments in an active, positive form: instead of "do not do," He says, "love," that is, His understanding of the law is directed not toward what must not be done, but toward what should be done. Further, it is crucial that the Lord joins these two commandments. In essence, the New Covenant gives us one commandment, calling us to love God and neighbor with the love with which the Son of God loved us on the Cross. Finally, Christ resolutely refuses to compare other commandments with these two, emphasizing their uniqueness and exhaustive character.

The scribe who asked the question pays attention precisely to this last aspect: "You have truly said... and to love Him... and to love one's neighbor... is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." The Lord approved this understanding, telling the scribe that he was not far from the Kingdom of God.