Bible Strands
Mark 12:34
When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a scribe in the temple courts after the man declares that loving God and neighbor surpasses all burnt offerings. He speaks this response immediately before shifting to a new teaching about the Christ being the Son of David.
The words — The Greek νουνεχῶς (nounechōs) literally means “with understanding” or “wisely,” describing the man’s precise reply. Jesus uses ἰδὼν (idōn), “having seen,” to note His observation of the man’s discernment.
The thread — The silence that follows appears in Luke 20:40 and Matthew 22:46, where opponents fall quiet after Jesus’ questions. Colossians 4:6 later instructs believers to let their speech be seasoned with salt so they may know how to answer everyone.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus affirming the man’s proximity to God’s kingdom before closing the debate with silence. It requires the reader to recognize that correct doctrine alone does not guarantee entry, but rather points toward a posture of readiness to receive God’s reign.
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.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Cross-references
- Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Luke 20:40 And they did not dare to question Him any further.
- Matthew 22:46 No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further.
- Job 32:15 Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.
- Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Romans 7:9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
- Galatians 2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
- Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.