Mark 12:28-34 Is Love the Answer?

Mark 12:34  "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

A teacher of the law asked Jesus to identify the most important commandment in the Bible. Jesus gave the standard, orthodox answer. Quoting from the Old Testament he responded: God is one; love God and secondly love your neighbor. The teacher was pleased with Jesus' answer. He repeated what Jesus said and added his own commentary saying that such love was "more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (verse 33)

Perhaps, the teacher of the law was pleased with himself. He had gotten Jesus to say something that the teachers of the law would accept as orthodox. It was as if the teacher had asked a pupil a question and gotten the correct answer from his student. The teacher affirmed the pupil and gave a little commentary in addition. His added commentary was described by the Gospel writer as "wise." Then came the zinger. Jesus gave the last word and ended the encounter in such a way that this teacher and no one else "dared ask him any more questions." (verse 34)

Jesus said to the teacher who had answered wisely, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." To say that one is not far is to say that one has not reached. The teacher had elicited from Jesus the orthodox statement of the most important commandment in the Bible. What more could be said? If one knows and fulfills the law what could be left to do? The teacher apparently knew what was the most important commandment, but he was still short of the kingdom of God.

Earlier in this same chapter of Mark Jesus had stumped the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees as they attempted to catch him in an error of biblical interpretation. Later in the chapter we read the account of Jesus warning his disciples to beware of such teachers and leaders who make a show of wisdom and spirituality but are not to be trusted. They are predators who will receive God's severest punishment. Jesus taught them that a poor widow who gives a fraction of a penny honors God more than such religious leaders. (see 12:44)

Christians do not want to preach the "Great Commandment" as an achievement to attain. We do not want to make love of God a right answer in our list of orthodox beliefs. The Gospel brings us into a relationship with God through faith in Christ, This relationship cannot be reduced to law. We enter the kingdom of God when we receive the call of God in the grace which comes to us through proclamation of the cross and resurrection. We come to love God because God first loved us; we love others as ourselves when the Spirit produces a supernatural compassion within our hearts which we cannot produce in our own strength. To proclaim love as a law--even as the greatest law--will put us "not far from the kingdom."