HOME | SCRIPTURE INDEX | MOVIE INDEX | ART INDEX | SEARCH | ABOUT | MOBILE | ADVERTISE | SUPPORT | BLOG | CONTACT

Mark 12:28-34

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Chapter VI, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 50 - 115). (Longer version only - 4th cent interpolation.)
  • Primary comparative texts of Rabbinic Wisdom, including "greatest commandment" parallels, from Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University.
  • Chapter, XVI, The First Apology of Justin Martyr. (c 150)
  • XXXIV.25-28, 30, 32-34, 45; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • Chapter II, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • II.2, On The Apparel of Women, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • Chapter XXXIII, On the Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • II.10, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • XIV.16, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • On the Unity of the Church, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • I.6, Against the Heathen, Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 318.
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Sacrifices and outward worship never pleased God unless we first did the things which we owe to God and our neighbours."
  • Cases and Directions for Loving our Neighbor as Ourselves, Richard Baxter (Puritan, c 1650)
    • "The true meaning of the text is, you must love him according to his true worth, without the diversion and hinderance of selfishness and partiality."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Which is the first commandment? - The principal, and most necessary to be observed."
  • The Unity of the Divine Being (Mark 12:32). Sermon by John Wesley.
  • "The First and Great Commandment," Mark 12:30, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1857.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "This was a question which, with some others, divided the Jewish teachers into rival schools. Our Lord's answer is in a strain of respect very different from what He showed to cavillers--ever observing His own direction, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine; lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you""
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Pharisaism consisted of forms and paid little attention to love, mercy, and purity of heart."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Mark 12:38-44, Emerson Powry, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
    • "Nothing in Mark's story prepared the reader for this conversation between Jesus and this Jerusalem scribe."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
  • "The Interpretation of Love," Andrew Prior, One Man's Web, 2015.
  • "Open Source," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2015.
  • "The Politics of the Greatest Commandment," Amy Allen, Political Theology Today, 2015.
  • "The First Commandment(s)," Stan Duncan, If You Lived Here You'd Be Home by Now, 2015.
  • "The Great Lover," David F. Sellery, This Week's Focus, 2015.
  • "Love and Change," Katie Munnik, Presbyterian Record, 2015.
  • "The Law Prioritized and Relativized," D Mark Davis, raw translation and exegesis/questions, Left Behind and Loving It, 2012.
    • "It is curious to see that both the Scribe and Jesus seem to feel entitled to have the last word, commending the other. There is unusual accord in their views of the law."
  • "Not Far," Nancy Rockwell, Bite in the Apple, 2012.
    • "The debates and the campaign have focused on such questions about taxes - whether involving other nations and their money in our personal taxes and in our national tax situation is kosher or not – and whether women have to bow to serving the will of others, or are free to make their own decisions about their lives and how they use them."
  • Question of Which Commandment Is the Greatest, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2012.
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Commentary, Mark 12:38-44, Henry Langknecht, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "This reading from the Gospel of Mark is a two-act drama with some intriguing and troubling connections."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Mark 12:28-34, David Ewart, 2012.
    • "No one in that crowd of both opponents and admirers would dispute, "Love of God," as the greatest commandment. But when Jesus goes on and links it to, "Love of neighbour as oneself," he has lifted attachment to the welfare of one's neighbours above all other duties and obligations, including - gasp! - religious ones."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Perfect Obedience," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2009.
    • "God’s original intention for humanity in the first place was to live in relationship with God, loving and serving God by loving and serving others. It is a life of obedience that creates justice, and freedom, and peace for us all."
  • A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 11 - 12, Carl W. Conrad. (Click superscript numbers for commentary.)
  • "Which Is the Greatest Commandment?" Michael A. Turton's Historical Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, "a complete verse-by-verse commentary on the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the historicity of people, places, events, and sayings in the world of the Gospel of Mark."
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 23, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Many people are closer to the kingdom of God out there in the world than those inside the church because they have grasped at least some of the perspective present in this anecdote."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "Our sainthood isn't about what we do or try to do. It's about the God -- the one holy God -- who touches our lives."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Mark 12:28-34, David Ewart, 2009.
    • "Who knew that at the peak of confrontation between Jesus and the religious elites of Jerusalem, it would be one of them who would embody Jesus' proclamation of God's Good News?"
  • "The Great Commandment," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "The Hinge, The Two Great Commandments," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
  • Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • "Love Yourself So That You Can Love Your Neighbor," Ordinary 31B, Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R., from Sundays Into Silence: Reflections on the Sunday Gospels in the Light of Christian Meditation. Claretian Publications.
    • " I believe that the great obstacle to love of others lies in the fact that we have been taught not to be at home with ourselves."
  • "What's Most Important?" Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "What is the highest value of our culture? How does that single value arrange other values?"
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 31B, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "The Paramount Issues of Life: Mark 12:28-31," J. Hampton Keathley III, Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Love for others can only grow out of the soil of love for God as it is fed and watered by fellowship with God in the streams of the Word (cf. Ps. 1:2)."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Ethics: Ministry of Jesus," "Mark 12: The Greatest Commandment," "Mark 12: Teaching the Crowd," wikipedia.
  • "Questions, Chreai, and Challenges to Honor. The Interface of Rhetoric and Culture in Mark's Gospel." Jerome H. Neyrey, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 60 (1998):657-81.
    • "In terms of rhetorical background, our survey of "questions" indicates that how they function more often than not as competitive, even hostile weapons intended to inflict major damage. Questions score points, draw blood, and shame opponents. The same interpretation applies equally to the phenomenon of answering a question with a counter-question, which also is an aggressive weapon. And by observing who is reduced to silence, we have narrative clues about who triumphed in the question game and who lost."
  • "Jesus, Apocalyptic, and World Transformation," David B. Batstone. Theology Today, 1993.
    • "It is often overlooked how ideologically explosive the notion of the kingdom of God was within Jesus' own social milieu. In first-century Palestine, it did not have the same metaphorical and strictly religious connotation that makes the term so safe within our own theological world. In fact, it evoked the memory and visionary impulse of Yahweh who acts to deliver Yahweh's 'chosen ones' from occupation and oppression at the hands of alien nations. Intrinsic to that symbolic universe is the conviction that the chosen suffer and the unjust prosper in the present day only because history stands at the brink of a great reversal."
  • "Instances of Exegetical Closeness between the DSS and the New Testament, and Their Implications," Serge Ruzer, Orion center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, 2004.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • DePuy, Norman R., "The Simple Profundity," The Christian Century, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Edelman, Marian Wright, "A Parent, Community, and National Audit: Who Are Our Children Modeling?" The Living Pulpit, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gomes, Peter J., "All Sinners, All Saints," The Christian Century, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Heil, John Paul, "The Narrative Strategy and Pragmatics of the Temple Theme in Mark," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hoyer, George W., "Mark 12:28-34, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1979.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Meyers, Robin R., "Extra Credit," The Christian Century, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Norfleet, Agnes W., "Between Text and Sermon: Mark 12:28-34," Interpretation, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Palmer, Maria Teresa, "Another Commandment," The Christian Century, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Parsons, Howard L., "The Commitments of Jesus and Marx: Resources for the Challenge and Necessity of Cooperation," Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Powery, Emerson, "Under the Gaze of the Empire: Who Is My Neighbor?" Interpretation, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smith, Stephen H., "The Literary Structure of Mark 11:1-12:40," Novum Testamentum, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stern, Jay B., "Jesus' Citation of Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 in the Light of Jewish Tradition," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1966.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Verbin, John S. Kloppenborg, "Egyptian Viticultural Practices and the Citation of Isaiah 5:1-7 in Mark 12:1-9," Novum Testamentum, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials 
  • Wenell, Karen J., "Contested Space and Visionary Kingdom Space in Mark 11-12," Biblical Interpretation, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wesselschmidt, Quentin F., "19th Sunday after Pentecost," Concordia Journal, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "The Hinge," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Kingdom Built by Love," the Rev. Gemechis Desta Buba, Day 1, 2003.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
    • Ordinary 31, 2000 (Dr. Mary G. Durkin)
    • Ordinary 31, 2006
    • Ordinary 31, 2009
    • Ordinary 31, 2012
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 26B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2012.
  • "The Most Important Part," and "The Greatest Commandment," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "All Else Fails," Rev. Dr. Edgar Mayer, Lutheran Church of Australia.
  • "The Great Commandment," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • Mark 11 & 12 Crossword, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "Can't Touch This," Fred Lane, dramatix.
  • "Neighbours from Hell," Erina Caradus, dramatix.
  • "The Vineyard of the Lord," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art Images: Mark 12:28-34, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Mark 12:28-34 at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Commercial Site: "Love Your Neighbor," (Mark 12) Visual Liturgy/Film, The Work of the People.
• Hymns and Music:
  • “When Waters Roar and Foam,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, is a hymn inspired by Jesus’ teaching to love our neighbors and to support relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy 2012, Tune: LEONI 6.6.8.4 (“The God of Abraham Praise”)."
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Love (see esp Angela's Ashes)
  • Covenant
  • Unity of Spirit/Purpose
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Mark

• INDEX BY SCRIPTURE
• PODCASTS
• NARRATIVE LECTIONARY RESOURCES
• DAILY LECTIONARY RESOURCES
• FESTIVALS/SPECIAL DAYS (includes Creation)
• FOR USE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE
• PEACE RESOURCES
• FOR USE IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER

• Year C
• Maundy Thurs Apr 14
• Good Friday Apr 15
• Easter Day Apr 17
• Easter 2 Apr 24
• Easter 3 May 1
• Easter 4 May 8
• Easter 5 May 15
• Easter 6 May 22
• Ascension May 26
• Easter 7 May 29
• Pentecost June 5
  

• Calendars
• YEAR A
• YEAR B
• YEAR C

©1997-2020, Jenee Woodard