Help with Mark 12:34

[StevenS]

When asked which is the most important commandment, Jesus sums them up, indicating that we are to love God and to love our neigbors as oursleves. A scribe the affirms Jesus’ teaching…(Mk 12:28 - 33)

Mk 12:34a And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God”. The verse concludes with (12:34b) “And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

I’m stumped as to what would cause that reaction??

Thank you for sharing your insights.

 

[tobinatorstark]

When asked which is the most important commandment, Jesus sums them up, indicating that we are to love God and to love our neigbors as oursleves. A scribe the affirms Jesus’ teaching…(Mk 12:28 - 33)

Mk 12:34a And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God”. The verse concludes with (12:34b) “And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

I’m stumped as to what would cause that reaction??

Thank you for sharing your insights.

from the Haydock Bible Commentary

Ver. 29. Literally the Lord our God is the only Lord: and this is the sense of the text in Deuteronomy vi. 4. The word in the original text, rendered by the term Lord, is the grand name JEHOVA, which signifies properly God, considered as the supreme Being, or the author of all existence.

Ver. 33. Venerable Bede gathers from this answer of the Scribes, that it had been long disputed among the Scribes and Pharisees, which was the greatest commandment in the law; some preferring the acts of faith and love, because many of the fathers, before the law was instituted, were pleasing to God on account of their faith and piety, and not on account of their sacrifices; yet none were agreeable to God who had not faith and charity. This Scribe seems to have been of the opinion of those who preferred the love of God. (Ven. Bede) — This excellence of charity teacheth us that faith only is not sufficient. (Bristow)

Ver. 34. Being now refuted in their discourse, they no longer interrogate him, but deliver him up to the Roman power. Thus envy may be vanquished, but with great difficulty silenced. (Ven. Bede)

 

[scottywolf777]

While not disputing the Haydock Bible Commentary, there’s a slightly different interpretation from a jewish perspective. Jesus is quoting a verse from Deuteronomy 9:27. This verse is known amoung jews as the sh’ma. i studied in a messianic synagogue for a year to help me understand the Old testament. The sh’ma prounounced shima is the closest thing jews have to a creed. It is very sacred during the morning sabbath service we would sing this verse in Hebrew facing Jerusalem. Hear oh isreal, The L-rd is thy G-d,the L-rd is one ( Sh’ma yisroel adonai elohenu adonai echad baruch shem qui vodt maluchto leolam vayed)folowed by a two verse commentary that sums up all of the Torah (Law of Moses or Pentetuch, the first 5 books of the Bible) that jews swore to live by into two very succinct statements no other rabbi had managed to do that.Also in doing so, he took the law from simply worrying about doing the right thing (don’t kill or steal or in our terms no drunk driving, don’t cross against the light etc) and made it a matter of love alot harder to tick that off your list of things not to do or to do.

 

[diggerdomer]

When asked which is the most important commandment, Jesus sums them up, indicating that we are to love God and to love our neigbors as oursleves. A scribe the affirms Jesus’ teaching…(Mk 12:28 - 33)

Mk 12:34a And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God”. The verse concludes with (12:34b) “And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

I’m stumped as to what would cause that reaction??

Thank you for sharing your insights.

Mark is telling us that they experienced and respected Jesus’ authority and knowledge. He “passed their test” so they had nothing else to challenge Him with. imho

 

[Todd_Easton]

The religious authorities were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and looked upon Jesus as a rival and so they tried to discredit him with the people by catching him in his speech. (Mark 12:13) The Pharisees and Herodians posed their difficult question about whether or not to pay tribute to Rome. The Sadducees posed their difficult question about whose wife would the woman who married the seven brothers be at the resurrection. The Scribes posed their difficult question about which was the greatest commandment. Jesus proved that he was up to all their verbal challenges so they stopped asking him questions to catch him in his speech and they began a new strategy against him by looking for a way to arrest him by some trick and kill him. (Mark 14:1)

 

[StevenS]

While not disputing the Haydock Bible Commentary, there’s a slightly different interpretation from a jewish perspective. Jesus is quoting a verse from Deuteronomy 9:27. This verse is known amoung jews as the sh’ma. i studied in a messianic synagogue for a year to help me understand the Old testament. The sh’ma prounounced shima is the closest thing jews have to a creed. It is very sacred during the morning sabbath service we would sing this verse in Hebrew facing Jerusalem. Hear oh isreal, The L-rd is thy G-d,the L-rd is one ( Sh’ma yisroel adonai elohenu adonai echad baruch shem qui vodt maluchto leolam vayed)folowed by a two verse commentary that sums up all of the Torah (Law of Moses or Pentetuch, the first 5 books of the Bible) that jews swore to live by into two very succinct statements no other rabbi had managed to do that.Also in doing so, he took the law from simply worrying about doing the right thing (don’t kill or steal or in our terms no drunk driving, don’t cross against the light etc) and made it a matter of love alot harder to tick that off your list of things not to do or to do.

Thank you Mr Wolf!

I thought maybe the “anxious” scribe (anxious to ask this question, that is) had pondered long on these thoughts. Once Jesus replied to his question the way He did, the scribe felt confirmed, because he quickly expounds on why love is so important to G-d and gives Jesus a “well done”! Almost like a British “well done” as I imagine it.

I don’t see the scribe as trying to “trick” Jesus, rather he really want’s to know what this very wise, yet very young rabbi has to say about the subject.

I think perhaps Jesus’ follow-up asks the hearers to apply this “head” knowledge into “heart” knowledge…He asks the scribe to do something with this new perspective. Being deep thinkers, the scribe and other folks in conversation quickly grasp the ramifications. Their silence reminds me of the time when the leaders walk away after Jesus challenges those without sin to cast the first stone…

I imagine a mind-set of “well shut my mouth!” from those in attendance as they realize the truth that they heard and it’s personal challenge to each of them.

Steven

 

[StevenS]

from the Haydock Bible Commentary

Ver. 34. Being now refuted in their discourse, they no longer interrogate him, but deliver him up to the Roman power. Thus envy may be vanquished, but with great difficulty silenced. (Ven. Bede)

Thank you for the reference Mr. Stark.

The timing of this occurrrence reads as if it is very early in Jesus’ ministry. Though there is a constant antagonism between Jesus and most in the religious hierarchy, I’m still curious to the reaction Jesus causes. No additional comments, no attempts to throw Him off a cliff, no derisive reaction. But Mark (via the Holy Spirit) tells us that “no one dared to ask Him any more questions”.

What nerve does He hit with the hearers - and how am I missing it!

Steven

 

[StevenS]

Mark is telling us that they experienced and respected Jesus’ authority and knowledge. He “passed their test” so they had nothing else to challenge Him with. imho

Thank you Mr. Digger.

I cannot discount your perspective. I can only insert myself into the situation…

Why would a “scribe” ask Him? Why not a rabbi? I suspect the scribe was really curious to hear from Jesus after seeing His wisdom in action in some of the prior conversations (look at a few verses earlier in Mark). I think the scribe kind of broke protocol, but I’m just guessing… He just had to know!

Again just my thoughts, but once I have a respected and very learned man of God in my presence, you can bet I’m going to follow-up with a few more questions that I haven’t been able to discern on my own. Or I will ask for His assistance in settling some internal controversy. Or if I’m someone else on the sidelines, I see this as an opportunity to ask my question that’s been nagging me all these years…

God Bless you!
Steven

 

[StevenS]

The religious authorities were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and looked upon Jesus as a rival and so they tried to discredit him with the people by catching him in his speech. (Mark 12:13) The Pharisees and Herodians posed their difficult question about whether or not to pay tribute to Rome. The Sadducees posed their difficult question about whose wife would the woman who married the seven brothers be at the resurrection. The Scribes posed their difficult question about which was the greatest commandment. Jesus proved that he was up to all their verbal challenges so they stopped asking him questions to catch him in his speech and they began a new strategy against him by looking for a way to arrest him by some trick and kill him. (Mark 14:1)

Thank you Mr. Easton,

After the challenges by the Pharisees and the Herodians, we read:
Mar 12:28 - And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

After the interchange between Jesus and this scribe, Jesus compliments the scribe. I read that Jesus is pleased with his heart and his logic.

So perhaps the scenario is this?

Chief priests, scribes and elders confront Jesus on His authority (11:28)
Jesus asks them a question to see if they will attest to His authority and they refuse
(11:33)
A parable from Jesus that challenges these same religious leaders. (12:1-12)
A new group (or additional) of Pharisees and Herodians arrive and try to verbally get the better of Him, but cannot. (12:13-27)
Then we have the sincere (I think) scribe who reacts to Jesus’ Wisdom as discussed.
At which time those trying to trap Jesus and the sincere scribe are basically silenced - the hypocrites because of Jesus’ looking better and better (which is NOT what they want) and the scribe because he has lots more to chew on.

Thanks for helping me look at this with new eyes!

Steven