Mark 12 · Verse 28

Mark 12:28

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
Mark 12:28, King James Version

Mark 12:28 in other translations

BSBNow one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
WEBOne of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”
ASVAnd 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?
YLTAnd one of the scribes having come near, having heard them disputing, knowing that he answered them well, questioned him, ‘Which is the first command of all?'
DARBYAnd one of the scribes who had come up, and had heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered them well, demanded of him, Which is the first commandment of all?
BBEAnd one of the scribes came, and hearing their argument together, and seeing that he had given them a good answer, put the question to him, Which law is the first of all?
WebsterAnd one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

What does Mark 12:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. And one of the scribes--"a lawyer," says Matthew (Mt 22:35); that is, teacher of the law. came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him--manifestly in no bad spirit. When Matthew (Mt 22:35) therefore says he came "tempting," or "trying him," as one of the Pharisaic party who seemed to enjoy the defeat He had given to the Sadducees, we may suppose that though somewhat priding himself upon his insight into the law, and not indisposed to measure his knowledge with One in whom he had not yet learned to believe, he was nevertheless an honest-hearted, fair disputant. Which is the first commandment of all?--first in importance; the primary, leading commandment, the most fundamental one. This was a question which, with some others, divided the Jewish teachers into rival schools. Our Lord's answer is in a strain of respect very different from what He showed to cavillers--ever observing His own direction, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine; lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Mt 7:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 28-34. See Mt 22:34-40.

Verse 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 this question seems to have been one of the very few candid inquiries made of him by the Jews, for the purpose of obtaining information. Jesus answered it in like spirit of kindness, and commend the conduct of the man.

(i) "And one of the Scribes" Mt 22:35

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Mark 12:28 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
προσελθὼνproselthōnhaving come upG4334
εἷςheisoneG1520
τῶνtōnof theG3588
γραμματέων,grammateōnscribes,G1122
ἀκούσαςakousashaving heardG191
αὐτῶνautōnwhen theyG846
συζητούντων,suzētountōnare reasoning together,G4802
ἰδὼνidōnseeingG1492
ὅτιhotithatG3754
καλῶςkalōswellG2573
ἀπεκρίθηapekrithēHe answeredG611
αὐτοῖς,autoisthemG846
ἐπηρώτησενepērōtēsenhe questionedG1905
αὐτόν·autonHim;G846
ποίαpoiaWhichG4169
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ἐντολὴentolēcommandmentG1785
πρώτηprōtē[the] firstG4413
πάντων;pantōnof allG3956

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 12:28

  • Matthew 22:34-40

    But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. …

  • Luke 10:25-28

    And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

  • Luke 20:39

    Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

  • Matthew 19:18

    He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

  • Matthew 5:19

    Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
one.
Mt 22:34-40
Which.
Mt 5:19; 19:18; 23:23; Lu 11:42

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 12:27

    He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

  • Mark 12:28

    And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

  • Mark 12:29

    And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

Read all of Mark 12

Mark 12:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y llegándose uno de los escribas, que los había oído disputar, y sabía que les había respondido bien, le preguntó: ¿Cuál es el primer mandamiento de todos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’un des scribes, qui les avait entendus disputer, voyant qu’il leur avait bien répondu, s’approcha et lui demanda: Quel est le premier de tous les commandements?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und einer der Schriftgelehrten, der gehört hatte, wie sie sich befragten, trat herzu, und als er wahrnahm, daß er ihnen gut geantwortet hatte, fragte er ihn: Welches Gebot ist das erste von allen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et accessit unus de scribis, qui audierat illos conquirentes, et videns quoniam bene illis responderit, interrogavit eum quod esset primum omnium mandatum.