Thoughts for the Day

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, "Here, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 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 neighbour as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.' Then the scribe said to him, 'You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that "he is one, and besides him there is no other"; and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength", and "to love one's neighbour as oneself" - this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.' When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Up to this point in Mark's Gospel we have seen that Jesus has been criticised and challenged by those in authority, and in particular the pharisees and scribes. His answers have often been harsh as he seeks to deal with their constant attacks. However, this Scribe really wants an answer, not just to put Jesus down. He genuinely wants to know what is the most important law of the 600 or more oral laws that exist.

Jesus answers him by quoting from the words used each day in the Jewish daily prayer that come from Deuteronomy. Jesus says the Scribe should love God, and we should note that this is a command. We may wonder how we can be commanded to love anyone, even God, but the point is that God has given us everything - our life, our breath, and our world. There is no other response that we can make, but to love Him.

Hillel, a famous Jewish sage who helped to produce the Talmud, a written version of all these laws, says: "What you hate for yourself, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole law; the rest is commentary. Go and learn." Jesus gently commends the Scribe for his understanding as he goes to continue his learning.

Heavenly Father,
may we learn to care for other people;
and to know that what we hate for ourselves
must never be done to our neighbours.
May we love others far more than ourselves,
and see that justice is carried out in our world.
Amen.