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Mark 12:28

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 12:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?
Mark 12:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.
26But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in [the place concerning] the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I [am] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.
28And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?
29Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:
30and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
31The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
← Mark 12:27Mark 12:29 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And one of the Scribes came, etc..] Matthew calls him a lawyer, (<402235>Matthew 22:35), an interpreter of the law, as a Scribe was: and having heard them reasoning together; being present at the dispute between Christ and the Sadducees, which he diligently attended to: and perceiving that he had answered them well: in a most beautiful manner. The Jews have adopted the very Greek word here used, and make use of it in the same sense as wlaq hyl rma f207, “he answered him well”: or, as the gloss upon it, “praise worthily”; in a manner deserving praise; and is the same with trmaq ry f208, “thou hast said well”, or beautifully; and so the answer here was with great solidity, and judgment, and…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 22:34-40. Mark 12:28 Perceiving that he answered them well - That is, with wisdom, and with a proper understanding of the law. In this case the opinion of the Saviour corresponded with that of the Pharisees; and the question which this scribe put to him now seems to have been one of the very few candid inquiries of him by the Jews for the purpose of obtaining information. Jesus answered it in the spirit of kindness, and commended the conduct of the man. Mark 12:29 Hear, O Israel! - This was said to call the attention of the Jews to the great importance of the truth about to be proclaimed. See Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The Lord our God ... - Literally, “Yahweh, our God, is…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Which is the first commandment? - The principal, and most necessary to be observed. Mat 22:34; Luk 10:25. Mark 12:29”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:28-34 After the three hostile challenges of 11:27–12:27, the reader might expect the next question to Jesus to be hostile (see 11:28; 12:13, 15, 19-23), but this was not a hostile counter. Earlier references in Mark to the teachers of religious law have portrayed them as antagonistic (2:6-7, 16; 3:22; 7:1, 5; 8:31; 9:14; 10:33; 11:18, 27), and Jesus will warn the crowds against their hypocrisy (12:38-40), but this teacher was positively inclined toward Jesus (12:28, 32) and praised him (12:32-33). Jesus described the man’s answer to his question as having understanding, and Jesus said that the man was not far from the Kingdom of God (12:34). 12:28 Of all the commandments: The Torah…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“one: Mat 22:34-40 Which: Mat 5:19, Mat 19:18, Mat 23:23; Luk 11:42 Mark 12:29”
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Related study paths

Read Mark 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification