Mark 12:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The essence of all virtues and the foundation of God's commandments is the love for God, which is inseparably linked to love for one's neighbor (cf. Mt 22:39; Lk 10:27). A true lover of God will not disregard his brother, nor will he place wealth above his neighbor, instead demonstrating immense generosity, keeping in mind the words: Inasmuch as you did unto one of the least of my brethren, you did unto me (Matt. 25:40). Recognizing that the Lord regards actions done out of love for others as if they are done for Himself, he diligently serves and generously gives to those in need, focusing not on the outward poverty of the individual, but rather on the greatness of the One who commands us to love our neighbor (cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

The second commandment, which parallels the first, is to love your neighbor. Why is this the case? Because the two are intrinsically connected. A person who loves God naturally extends that love to His creation, and among God's creations, humanity is the closest. Therefore, one who loves God will inevitably love all people. Conversely, the one who cherishes their neighbor demonstrates an even greater love for God; for if they love others, who may often bring about trials and enmity, their love for God, who is perpetually kind, is amplified. The Lord’s words confirm this: ‘He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he loveth me’ (John 14:21). Observe how fulfilling His commandments is rooted in our love for God, and that the essence of all His commands is centered on reciprocal love.

There is no greater virtue in this life than to cherish that which is truly admirable. To choose the good reflects wisdom; to resist temptation exemplifies strength; to avoid pride is a manifestation of righteousness. Why do we gravitate toward what we hold dear? Is it because there exists nothing superior? Ultimately, it is God Himself, and if we prioritize or equate anything or anyone with Him, then in loving them, we miss the essence of loving our own selves. The more we draw close to Him, the clearer this truth becomes; what once seemed better pales in comparison. Our approach is not physical but rather one of love, and we recognize His presence as pure as the love through which we seek Him.

Dear friends, let us together affirm our faith in Christ concerning these issues: to cherish one another, as He taught us (cf. Jn. 13:35, Jn. 15:12; 1 Jn. 3:11), to refrain from marital unfaithfulness (cf. Exod. 20:14; Gal. 5:19), to avoid slandering one another (cf. Proverbs 10:18) or harboring jealousy (cf. Proverbs 6:34), but instead to embody self-control, compassion, and kindness (cf. Eph. 4:32; 1 Pet. 3:8). We must show empathy towards one another and refrain from falling into greed. Let us profess Him in these virtues rather than their opposites. We should place our reverence not in the opinions of people, but in God.

No form of love achieves perfection in isolation, as one cannot truly love God without also loving their neighbor, just as loving one's neighbor is intertwined with love for God (cf. Mt. 22:37-39; Lk. 10:27). Thus, when the Lord inquired of Peter about his love for Him, and He received a response that acknowledged this love, He consistently added: Tend My sheep or: Tend My lambs (Jn. 21:15-17). This implies that the genuine and authentic expression of unwavering love for God is found in the effort to support our brethren through their trials and struggles.

A lawyer inquired of the Lord, “Which commandment is the most important?” The Lord replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength; this is the foremost commandment. The second is similar: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. No commandments are greater than these.” This encapsulates the essence of humanity’s deepest heart (1 Pet. 3:4). The holiness of the Lord embodies His spirit, while love represents His soul, with all other virtues being various parts of His hand, foot, eye, ear, or tongue. It is essential to remember this, for there are times when people may view good deeds as the ultimate virtues, relying on them alone without regard for the Lord and neglecting love.

As the Lord resisted these temptations, some well-meaning individuals rallied to His support. One of them, although not recognizing Him as the Messiah, acknowledged Him as a witness to the truth, and posed a question not simply to seek His views but rather to express his alignment with Him regarding a significant ethical issue. “Teacher,” he inquired, “what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied, “It is comprised of two primary commandments: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. The first is the greatest commandment, and the second is akin to it.” The scribe affirmed this and noted that love surpasses all forms of sacrifice. It was clear that this scribe grasped the essence of true piety.

The distinction between the accounts of Matthew and Mark lies in the approach of the lawyer who questioned Christ. In Matthew’s narrative, this lawyer serves as an instrument of the Pharisees, aiming to provoke Christ and entrap Him with words. In contrast, Mark depicts the lawyer approaching Christ after observing His wise response to the Sadducees regarding the resurrection. Upon answering Christ, he receives acknowledgment of his closeness to the kingdom of God. This indicates that Matthew emphasizes the significance of the lawyer's inquiry for the Pharisees, including their mindset and intentions, while Mark focuses on the personal attributes of the questioner and the profound impact of Christ’s response.

Perceiving the genuine intent of the lawyer, Christ provided him with profound teaching, indicating that the foremost commandment is to love God and the second, similar to it, is ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ These two commandments are the foundation upon which the entire law and the prophets rest. The lawyer wholeheartedly accepted this explanation, and the Saviour responded, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ He simply needed to embrace faith in Christ as the Messiah.

There is no commandment more important than these because the essence of religion in everyday living is found in love for God and for one’s neighbor.