Not Far from the Kingdom: Mark 12:28-34

A teacher of the law had been listening. Unlike the others, he came with a genuine question, not a trap:

"Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

The rabbis counted 613 commandments in the Torah—248 positive, 365 negative. The debates about priority were endless. This man wanted Jesus' answer.

Jesus replied with the Shema, the prayer every faithful Jew recited twice daily: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

All. Everything. Every corner of heart and soul and mind and strength directed toward loving God. No compartmentalization, no religious life separate from regular life. All of it.

"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Six hundred thirteen commands distilled to two. And the two were one: love God completely, love neighbor as self. Vertical and horizontal, inseparable.

The teacher responded with unusual understanding: "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

More important than sacrifice. A teacher of the law saying that love trumped temple ritual. It was remarkable.

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said: "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Not far. So close. Almost there. What remained? The man stood on the threshold. Jesus did not push him through—but the door was open.

After that, no one dared ask him any more questions.