Your High Christian Calling – Mark 12:28-44
12 (28) One of the scribes came and heard them debating. Realizing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, What is the greatest commandment? (29) Jesus answered, The greatest commandment is this, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one; (30) and 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. (31) The second great commandment is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (32) The scribe said to him, Truly, Teacher, you are right in saying that he is one; and there is none beside him; (33) and to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is more important than all the burnt-offerings and sacrifices. (34) When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. After that no one dared ask him any question.
(35) As he taught in the temple, Jesus asked, How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? (36) David himself said by the Holy Spirit, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool for your feet. (37) David himself calls him Lord; how then is he his son? And the common people enjoyed listening to him. (38) In his teaching Jesus said, Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long flowing robes, and be greeted in the marketplaces, (39) and occupy the most important seats in the synagogues, and the place of greatest honor at banquets. (40) But they devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance offer long prayers. They are the ones who shall receive greater condemnation.
(41) He sat down across from the place where the offerings were deposited, and observed how the crowd put money into the temple treasury. Many rich people deposited large sums of money. (42) Then there came one poor widow, and she put into the treasury two copper coins which together make a small fraction of a denarius. (43) Jesus called his disciples to himself and said to them, I tell you the truth, This poor widow has given more than all those who are depositing offerings into the treasury; (44) because each of them gave from their abundance; but she out of her poverty gave all that she had, her entire income.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
