28 And one of the Scribes came, as thyself. There is none other com- and having heard them reasoning mandment greater than these, together, and perceiving that he had 32 And the Scribe said unto him, answered them well, asked him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: Which is the first commandment of for there is one God ; and there is none all ? other but He :
29 And Jesus answered him, The | 33 And to love him with all the first of all the commandments is, heart, and with all the understanding, Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our God is and with all the soul, and with all one Lord : the strength, and to love his neighbor
30 And thou shalt love the Lord as himself, is more than all whole thy God with all thy heart, and with burnt offerings and sacrifices.
all* thy soul, and with all thy mind, 34 And when Jesus saw that he
and with all thy strength : this is the answered discreetly, he said unto him,
first commandment, Thou art not far from the kingdom
31 And the second is like, namely of God. And no man after that durst this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor ask him any question.
These verses contain a conversation between our Lord Jesus Christ and " one of the Scribes." For the third time in one day we see our Lord tried by a hard question. Having put to silence the Pharisees and Sadducees, He is asked to decide a point on which much difference of opinion prevailed among the Jews : " Which is the first commandment of all." We have reason to bless God that so many hard questions were propounded to our Lord. Without them the marvellous words of wisdom which His three answers contain, might never have been spoken at all. Here, as in many other cases, we see how Grod can bring good out of evil. He can make the most malicious assaults of His enemies work round to the good of His church, and redound to His own praise. He can make the enmity of Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes minister instruction to His people. Little did the three questioners in this chapter think what benefit their crafty questions would confer on all Christendom " Out of the eater came forth meat." (Judges xiv. 14.)