Mark 12:31

31 The second is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. There is no other law greater 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 said in answer, The first is, Give ear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you are to have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
31 The second is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. There is no other law greater than these.
32 And the scribe said to him, Truly, Master, you have well said that he is one, and there is no other but he:
33 And to have love for him with all the heart, and with all the mind, and with all the strength, and to have the same love for his neighbour as for himself, is much more than all forms of offerings.

Related Articles

The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.