Mark 12:30

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses a scribe who has asked him about the greatest commandment, immediately after declaring that the Lord is One.

The words — The directive hinges on ἀγαπήσεις (agapēseis), meaning "you will love," and ἐξ ὅλης (ex holēs), literally "out of all," to frame the scope of the command.

The thread — The text directly quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, where Moses commands Israel to direct total devotion toward Yahweh.

Why it lands — The passage requires complete personal devotion to God across every human faculty, establishing it as the primary obligation before any other duty.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.