Mark xii. 34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.
OUR blessed Lord has given us this caution : "Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine a." But, in following this sugges- tion, we must be careful not to judge precipitately,
a Matt. vii. 6.
but to give to every one an opportunity, at least, to manifest the real dispositions of his mind. Such was our Lord's conduct, in relation to the different de- scriptions of persons who conversed with him. There came to him many who sought only to ensnare him, and " catch him in his words \" They, however, put on an appearance of sincerity, and addressed him with great respect0 : and therefore, notwithstanding he saw through their design, he answered the ques- tions which they proposed to himd. After he had put both the Herodians and the Sadducees to silence, a Scribe from among the Pharisees, with no better intention than the former, put a question to him, though of a less ensnaring kind6. This person seems to have been instigated by others, rather than to have followed the bent of his own mind : and the benefit of returning a courteous answer, even to captious inquiries, now strikingly appeared; for he was con- vinced by the instruction he received; and by shewing the docility of his own mind, he elicited from our Lord that gracious testimony, " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."
It shall be my endeavour, I. To confirm the declaration of our Lord —
The question asked by the Scribe was, " Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Our Lord replied, That it was that which enjoined us to " love God with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength : and that the second was like unto it, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself f." In this answer the Scribe fully acquiesced ; and thereby he shewed, that " he was not far from the kingdom of God."
Now, observe what his acquiescence implied. It indicated,
1. Knowledge — [This was a knowledge which was by no means common amongst the Scribes and Pharisees at that day. They laid a
b ver. 13. « ver. 14. d ver. 15—17. and 18—27.
e Compare Matt. xxii. 34—36. f ver. 28—31.