NARRATOR: After listening to Jesus arguing with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Herodians, one of the scribes who recognized how well he answered approached Jesus.
SCRIBE: What is the greatest of all the commandments?
JESUS: The greatest of all the commandments is “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.” That is the greatest, and the second is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandments are greater than these.
SCRIBE: You are right, Teacher; you have truly said, “God is the One, and beside God there is no other.” Yes, to love God with all our heart, with all our thoughts, and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, is worth more than any burnt offering or sacrifice.
NARRATOR: Jesus approved the insight of this answer.
JESUS: You are not far from the reign of God.
NARRATOR: No one had the courage to ask Jesus any more questions.
Mark 12.28-34