NARRATOR: One day a scribe, a teacher of the Law, challenged Jesus to answer a trick question about the 613 commandments in the Law of Moses.
TEACHER OF THE LAW: Which is the greatest of the Commandments?
JESUS: This is the greatest: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord your God is Lord alone. Therefore, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” And this is the second: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other Commandment is greater than these.
TEACHER OF THE LAW: What a great teacher you are! You are right, “The Lord alone is God; there is no other.” Yes,“ to love the Lord with all our hearts and all our minds, and all our strength, and our neighbors as ourselves”.. — this is worth more than making burnt offerings or sacrifices of animals.
NARRATOR: Jesus approved of these wise words and told the Teacher of the Law:
JESUS: You are not far from the reign of God.
NARRATOR: No one else dared to ask Jesus any more questions.
Mark 12.28-34