In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus has an intriguing interaction with one of the scribes (experts in the Mosaic Law). This scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the most important, and Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5 about loving God and Leviticus 19:18 about loving your neighbor. The scribe affirms that these commandments are more important than sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jesus then tells him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” This statement has sparked much discussion over what Jesus meant and how close this scribe actually was to the kingdom of God.
To understand this interaction more fully, we must first recognize the context. In Mark 11-12, Jesus is teaching in the temple courts in Jerusalem in the final week before His crucifixion. He has already driven out the money changers, cursed the fig tree, and debated with the chief priests, scribes, and elders over His authority. Many of the religious leaders are trying to trap Jesus or discredit Him before the people (Mark 12:13). It is likely this scribe approaches Jesus as another attempt to entangle Him in His words.
However, the scribe’s response is noticeably different from the antagonism of the other religious leaders. He does not challenge Jesus or mock Him. The scribe seems to affirm Jesus’ answer, emphasizing the priority of love over religious rituals and sacrifices. This distinguishes the scribe from his peers who valued external displays of piety over inner devotion to God and neighbor (Matthew 23:23-28).
Why then does Jesus say the scribe is close to the kingdom? First, the scribe correctly prioritizes the ethical commands of Scripture over ceremonial laws. He understands that rituals matter far less to God than a changed heart and life (1 Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6). His insight aligns with Jesus’ teaching on true religion versus empty externalism (Matthew 23:1-12).
Second, the scribe recognizes Jesus as a teacher of truth. By affirming Jesus’ answer, the scribe sets himself apart from the other religious leaders who rejected Christ’s authority. He seems open to Jesus’ teaching in a way his peers were not.
Third, the scribe summarizes the essence of God’s law in a way consistent with Jesus’ ethic of love. When asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 to love God and Leviticus 19:18 to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). The scribe appears to grasp this core ethic that fulfills the intent of the law.
Fourth, the scribe accepts the priority of the internal over the external, of mercy over sacrifice. His insight aligns with Old Testament passages like 1 Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6, Psalm 40:6 and Micah 6:6-8. He understands that ritual obedience matters far less than love, justice, mercy and humility before God.
For these reasons, Jesus affirms the scribe is close to God’s kingdom. His insight into Scripture and openness to Jesus’ teaching distinguish him from the hostile religious establishment. He understands the ethical core of God’s law in a way many of his contemporaries did not. In this sense, the scribe seems receptive to the righteousness of God’s kingdom which begins inwardly and transforms outward behavior.
However, being close is still not the same as entering God’s kingdom. The scribe displays intellectual awareness and openness, but we do not read of him placing faith in Christ for salvation. To enter the kingdom, he must still repent and believe the gospel on a personal level (Mark 1:14-15). Believing certain truths about Jesus and His teaching is different than trusting in Christ alone for forgiveness.
Thankfully, Jesus’ statement implies it is still possible for the scribe to fully enter the kingdom. The opportunity remains open to him. We are not told if the scribe eventually converted, but we can hope Christ’s affirmation moved him closer to embracing the gospel. Jesus likely intended His words as an invitation to the scribe to cross the threshold from mental assent to wholehearted belief.
In summary, Jesus told the scribe he was close to God’s kingdom due to:
- His insight into Scripture’s true priorities
- His openness to Jesus’ authority and teaching
- His grasp of the ethic of love at the heart of God’s law
- His hunger for inward righteousness versus external religious displays
Though the scribe displayed uncommon spiritual insight for his day, he still needed to place full faith in Jesus to enter the kingdom. May we examine our own hearts as well. Do we embrace the righteousness of the kingdom that starts within and transforms outward behavior? Are we mere admirers of Jesus or wholehearted followers who have surrendered to Him as King?
The scribe reminds us that intellectual knowledge alone is not enough. Let us move beyond mental assent to truly know, love and obey Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
In Mark 12, Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem for the climactic final week before His crucifixion. Chapter 12 records mounting religious opposition to Jesus as the chief priests, scribes and elders all try to challenge or trap Him publicly. They refuse to accept Christ’s authority and are threatened by His popularity with the crowds who hail Him as a Prophet and King (Mark 11:7-11).
It is in the thick of this escalating tension with the religious establishment that an intriguing encounter occurs between Jesus and a scribe in Mark 12:28-34. On the surface it appears like another attempted entrapment. But the scribe’s response reveals an uncommon spiritual insight and openness to Jesus’ teaching that distinguishes him from his hostile peers.
The Scribe’s Question (Mark 12:28)
Mark 12:28 states:
One of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” (Mark 12:28 ESV)
From Matthew’s parallel account, we learn this scribe was both a Pharisee and expert in the Jewish law (Matthew 22:34-35). His initial question, while posed respectfully, was likely meant to test or trap Jesus. The scribes frequently disputed with Jesus, trying to undermine His credibility or catch Him in a theological error (Mark 12:13).
The rabbis had isolated 613 commands in the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), debating endlessly over which were light versus heavy (important). So this scribe’s question about the greatest commandment was a significant theological dispute of the day. He likely expected Jesus to incriminate Himself by elevating one part of God’s law above another.
However, Jesus perceives the man’s ulterior motive and responds wisely…
Jesus’ Answer (Mark 12:29-31)
Mark 12:29-31 records:
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31 ESV)
Rather than pick one commandment, Jesus fuses Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18 together as a unified summary of God’s ethical requirements. This ‘love God and love neighbor’ couplet embodied the heart of the law’s intent. Other Biblical passages echo this ethic of complete love for both God and man (Matthew 22:37-40, Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8).
Additionally, Jesus grounds human love relationships in proper love for God first (“you shall love the Lord your God…”). Only by revering God completely can we gain perspective to love others rightly and refrain from idolizing human relationships.
By appealing to undisputed passages of Scripture, Jesus avoids the scribe’s theological trap. His response asserts both the priority of love as well as the unified whole of God’s law. This masterful summary outflanks the assumed ‘either-or’ behind the scribe’s question.
The Scribe’s Affirmation (Mark 12:32-33)
The scribe responds in Mark 12:32-33:
And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:32-33 ESV)
Rather than dispute Jesus, the scribe affirms His answer as wise and true. He echoes back the primacy of complete love for God and others above religious ritual. This response is strikingly humble for an expert educated in the law.
The scribe states these ethical commands are “much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Quoting from 1 Samuel 15:22, he recognizes that heart devotion matters more to God than outward ritual obedience. This aligns with Old Testament prophetic critiques of empty external religion (Isaiah 1:11-17, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:6-8).
In summary, the scribe acknowledges the unified nature of God’s law under the banner of love. He grasps that ritual observance means nothing without a transformed heart and life. This reveals uncommon spiritual insight and honesty for a religious scholar.
Jesus’ Affirmation (Mark 12:34)
Impressed by the scribe’s humility and insight, Jesus responds in Mark 12:34:
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:34 ESV)
Rather than dispute with the scribe, Jesus commends his answer as “wise.” He declares the scribe is “not far from the kingdom of God”, affirming his spiritual proximity to God’s redemptive reign.
What did Jesus mean by this intriguing statement? Why was the scribe close but still not fully participating in God’s kingdom?
The Meaning of “Not Far”
Jesus’ declaration reveals several aspects that positioned this scribe nearer to God’s kingdom than his contemporaries:
- Openness to truth – Unlike the hostile Pharisees, this scribe listened to Jesus’ teaching with an attitude of humility, affirming the wisdom of His words. He was receptive rather than combative.
- Insight into Scripture – The scribe correctly prioritized love over ritual, aligning with the prophetic critique of external religion. He recognized the unified summation of God’s law as love for God and neighbor.
- Hunger for righteousness – He valued inward devotion above strict ritual obedience. His focus was on the heart and not only external behavior.
- Pursuit of understanding – The scribe exhibited sincere thought and reflection to grasp the core truths Jesus taught. This contrasts with the proud, willful ignorance of the other religious leaders.
In these ways, the scribe displayed an openness to God’s kingdom that surpassed the hardened resistance of his peers. His reception of Jesus seems to unmask some level of dissatisfaction with empty external religion. He models thoughtful reflection, humility, and honesty as marks of true spirituality.
However, the scribe was still “not far” from the kingdom rather than fully participating in it. What was he lacking?
Still Outside the Kingdom
While the scribe showed uncommon spiritual insight, he apparently had not yet placed full faith in Jesus Himself. Knowledge and even approval of Christ are not enough to secure eternal life (John 5:39-40, James 2:19).
Though sympathetic to Jesus, the scribe still classified Him merely as a wise “Teacher”, rather than embracing Him as Messiah and Son of God. He had extensive academic knowledge about the law but may have lacked a personal relationship with the lawgiver. Like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, the scribe was still progressing toward the light (John 19:38-39).
To enter God’s kingdom requires wholehearted trust in Jesus for salvation (John 3:16-18, Mark 1:14-15, Acts 16:31). The scribe apparently had not reached this point of surrender and dependance on Christ alone.
Hence he remained only near the outskirts of the kingdom, yet still outside it. Though positively disposed to Jesus, he needed to cross the threshold into full commitment and belief. Knowledge without faith falls short (Romans 10:2-3). His spiritual pilgrimage was not yet complete.
An Invitation to Believe
Far from excluding the scribe, Jesus’ affirmation seems designed to rouse him to stronger faith. Christ often allowed initial doubt and questioning to pave the way for deeper trust (John 1:45-50). His commendation was likely an invitation for the scribe to move from intellectual belief to wholehearted reliance on Him alone.
By affirming the scribe’s proximity to God’s kingdom, Jesus highlighted how close he was to embracing the truth wholeheartedly. Like the seed planted in shallow soil, the scribe had received the word but not yet anchored his roots firm and deep (Mark 4:1-20). But the possibility for greater maturity was ripe.
Sadly, Scripture gives no further details about this scribe’s spiritual journey. We do not know if Christ’s praise drew him to fuller surrender and belief. Yet we can hope these gracious words impacted the scribe for eternity, rather than simply stoking his intellectual pride.
Lessons for Disciples Today
This intriguing interaction provides helpful insights for followers of Jesus today:
- The heart is paramount. Ritual obedience and religious knowledge are meaningless without inward devotion to God and love for people. Like the scribe, we must embrace this prophetic critique of empty externalism.
- Truth unites; Jesus fulfills. No single commandment takes priority over all others. As Jesus revealed, Scripture points unifiedly to love as the summation of true obedience. This honors the wholeness of biblical truth while grounding our ethic in Christ’s love.
- Near is not enough. Religious knowledge, spiritual curiosity, and mental assent cannot save us. We must place wholehearted trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Following Christ requires total surrender, not just appreciation from a distance.
- Humbly accept correction. Unlike the proud Pharisees, we must embrace biblical critique with honesty and teachability. Disputing truth hardens us, while receiving it humbly draws us nearer to God.
- Beware intellectual pride. Knowledge often tempts us to arrogance and quiets our hunger for God Himself. But true wisdom couples deep understanding with childlike faith, awe and surrender.
May we imitate this scribe’s humility while avoiding his incomplete faith. And may Christ’s gracious invitation rouse many more — both then and now — into His eternal kingdom.