29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
29 Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
29 Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one;
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
29 Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, OÂ Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 12:29
Commentary on Mark 12:28-34
(Read Mark 12:28-34)
Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men's transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy. Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ.