Which is the First Commandment? - Mark 12:28

Mark wrote how, “Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do you not therefore err, because you know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? And as touching the dead, that they rise: have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: you therefore do greatly err”, and in chapter twelve and verse twenty-eight of his book, Mark shared how one of the scribes asks Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?” where we read:

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?

The verse reads, “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, ...” Mark began with the words, “and one of the scribes came” which means “and a certain and particular one of the men who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings who served as an interpreter and teacher”, “and having heard them” or “and because this scribe was given the faculty for hearing, perceived and understood Jesus and the Sadducees” “reasoning together” which means “examining, discussing, disputing and questioning one another”. Mark shared how a “certain scribe” who was known to be an interpreter and teacher of the scriptures appeared before Jesus because He “heard” Jesus and the “Sadducees” questioning and disputing with one another.

The verse goes on to say, “... and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?” Mark continued with the words, “and perceiving” which means “and understanding, noticing and discerning” “that he had answered them well” or “that Jesus responded and gave an answer to the Sadducees in an excellent, honorable and commendable manner”, “asked him” which means “questioned and inquired of Jesus”, “Which is the first commandment of all” or “what sort or nature is the chief, first in rank or principle order, charge, precept or injunction of each, every, the whole and everyone of the commandments”? Mark shared how the “scribe” wanted Jesus to answer which of God's “commandments” was the “most important”, “top priority” and primary one of all.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how this “scribe” seemed to either be testing Jesus on His knowledge of the “scriptures” or he wanted to know if Jesus knew the “chief” command given by God. Jesus is the “living word” of God, and therefore He knew and knows all the “scripture” inspired by His Holy Spirit. Jesus will answer the “scribe's” question in the next verse, however, suffice it for now to understand that all the “scriptures” and “commandments” of God lead to a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will study the scriptures carefully and find Jesus to be not only the fulfillment of God's law, but also the reason why the law was given and provided by God.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus answers, “the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".