Pharisees Try Again
Matthew 22:41-44; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:39-44
Matthew 22:41-44
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they regrouped. Then, one of them who was a lawyer, tested him with a question. He said, “Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”
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Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”
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Mark 12:35-37
And one of the scribes who came, overhearing them reasoning with each other, realized he had answered them well. So, he asked him, “Which is the primary commandment of all?”
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And Jesus replied, “The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God 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.’ This is the primary commandment. And the second is like it, namely this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
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And the scribe said to him, “Well, Rabbi, you have said the truth, for there is only one God and no others exist. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your soul, and with all your strength—and to love one’s neighbor as himself—is worth more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
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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 asked him any more questions.
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Luke 20:39-40
Then certain of the scribes said, “Rabbi, you have spoken well.” And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
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