November 3, Ordinary 31B (Mark 12:28–34)
The scribe’s question to Jesus is not merely an academic exercise.
This Sunday’s gospel reading captures a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus, in which he articulates the core of his ethical teaching in response to a question about the greatest commandment.
Immediately prior to this, the Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection, which they deny (Mark 12:18–27). Jesus affirms the resurrection, states that earthly institutions like marriage do not exist in the afterlife, emphasizes that God is the God of the living, and supports this with scriptural evidence. Then a scribe, recognizing the wisdom in Jesus’ response, approaches him with an inquiry concerning the foremost commandment of all.
The question is not merely an academic exercise. It reflects a broader debate within Judaism about how to live faithfully according to God’s will. The Torah contains 613 commandments, and the scribe’s question seeks to distill these into a guiding principle.
