Mark 12:31

31 And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with 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, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one;
30 so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.'
31 And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."
32 The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate - that God is one and there is no other.
33 And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that's better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!"

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Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.