Mark 12:31

31 The second command is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There are no commands more important than these."

Mark 12:31 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:31

And the second is like
"Unto it", as in ( Matthew 22:39 ) and so it is read here in two ancient copies of Beza's, and in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions;

[namely] this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
This commandment stands in ( Leviticus 19:18 ) and respects not an Israelite only, or one of the same religion with a man's self, or his intimate friend and acquaintance, or one that lives in the same neighbourhood; but any man whatever, to whom affection should be shown, and good should be done to him, and for him, as a man would have done to and for himself; as much as lies in his power, both in things temporal and spiritual; see the note on ( Matthew 22:39 ) .

There is none other commandment greater than these;
in the whole law, moral or ceremonial; not the sabbath, nor circumcision, nor the phylacteries, nor the fringes on the borders of the garments, nor any other.

Mark 12:31 In-Context

29 Jesus answered, "The most important command is this: 'Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'
31 The second command is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There are no commands more important than these."
32 The man answered, "That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said God is the only Lord and there is no other God besides him.
33 One must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God."

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Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.