Mark 12:33

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And {G2532} to love {G25} him {G846} with {G1537} all {G3650} the heart {G2588}, and {G2532} with {G1537} all {G3650} the understanding {G4907}, and {G2532} with {G1537} all {G3650} the soul {G5590}, and {G2532} with {G1537} all {G3650} the strength {G2479}, and {G2532} to love {G25} his neighbour {G4139} as {G5613} himself {G1438}, is {G2076} more {G4119} than all {G3956} whole burnt offerings {G3646} and {G2532} sacrifices {G2378}.

and that loving him with all one's heart, understanding and strength, and loving one's neighbor as oneself, mean more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."

and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

Commentary

Mark 12:33 (KJV) states the scribe's profound agreement with Jesus' summary of the Law: "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." This verse captures a pivotal moment of theological understanding and highlights the core of biblical ethics.

Context

This verse is part of a series of challenges Jesus faced in the temple from various religious groups, including the Pharisees and Herodians and the Sadducees. Unlike the previous groups who sought to trap Him, a certain scribe, having heard Jesus' wise answers, genuinely asked about the first and greatest commandment. Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 (love God wholeheartedly) and Leviticus 19:18 (love your neighbor as yourself). The scribe's reply in Mark 12:32-33 shows his deep insight and approval, recognizing the spiritual essence over mere ritual.

Key Themes

  • The Supremacy of Love: The scribe affirms that genuine love for God and neighbor surpasses all ritualistic acts. This echoes the prophetic tradition, which often emphasized internal devotion over external performance (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6).
  • Holistic Devotion to God: Loving God with "all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength" speaks to a complete, undivided commitment. It encompasses emotions (heart), intellect (understanding), inner being (soul), and physical capabilities (strength).
  • Integrated Love for Neighbor: The second aspect, "to love his neighbour as himself," is presented as inextricably linked to the first, demonstrating that true piety manifests in right relationships with others.
  • Spiritual Understanding vs. Ritual: The scribe's statement that this love "is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" is profound. In a culture heavily reliant on temple sacrifices, this insight elevates the moral and spiritual dimensions of the Law above its ceremonial aspects.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "understanding" here is synesis (σύνΡσις), which implies a keen intellectual grasp or discernment, not just rote knowledge. It suggests a thoughtful, intelligent love for God that engages the mind as well as the emotions and will. The emphasis on "all the understanding" alongside "heart," "soul," and "strength" underscores that true devotion is not just emotional but also intellectually informed and deeply considered.

Practical Application

Mark 12:33 serves as a timeless reminder for believers that genuine faith is demonstrated not merely through religious rituals or external practices, but through a transformed heart that expresses itself in profound love for God and compassionate love for others. It challenges us to examine our priorities: are we more concerned with outward appearances or with cultivating a heart of love? This verse encourages a balanced spiritual life where devotion to God naturally spills over into selfless service and care for our fellow human beings, fulfilling the very essence of God's commands.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
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Cross-References

  • Hosea 6:6

    For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

  • Micah 6:6

    ΒΆ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

  • Micah 6:8

    He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

  • 1 Samuel 15:22

    And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.

  • Matthew 12:7

    But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • Matthew 9:13

    But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

  • Amos 5:21

    ΒΆ I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
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