Mark 12:28-34

Easy-to-Read Version

Which Command Is the Most Important?^(A)

²⁸One of the teachers of the law came to Jesus. He heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees and the Pharisees. He saw that Jesus gave good answers to their questions. So he asked him, “Which of the commands is the most important?”

²⁹Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘People of Israel, listen! The Lord our God is the only Lord. ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’^[a] ³¹The second most important command is this: ‘Love your neighbor^[b] the same as you love yourself.’^[c] These two commands are the most important.”

³²The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You are right in saying that God is the only Lord and that there is no other God. ³³And you must love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And you must love others the same as you love yourself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.”

³⁴Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely. So he said to him, “You are close to God’s kingdom.” And after that time, no one was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.

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Footnotes

Mark 12:30 Quote from Deut. 6:4-5.
Mark 12:31 your neighbor Or “others.” Jesus’ teaching in Lk. 10:25-37 makes clear that this includes anyone in need.
Mark 12:31 Quote from Lev. 19:18.

Luke 10:25-28

Easy-to-Read Version

A Story About the Good Samaritan

²⁵Then an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

²⁶Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you understand from it?”

²⁷The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’^[a] Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’^[b]”

²⁸Jesus said, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have eternal life.”

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