September 19 / Mark 12:28-37

Mark 12:28-37

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” We noted yesterday (and Mark has it today) that Jesus was quoting Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord…” (v. 36). I went back in my Study Bible to look at the notes for Psalm 110. These notes said that the scribes regularly assumed that this verse referred to the Messiah. However, the Study Bible also noted that some scribes saw in this verse that David was referring to his son, Solomon, and was calling him “my Lord” since Solomon was now the king and had a higher rank than David. Interesting…!

Again I see the power of reading only a few verses instead of two or three chapters at a time. Today we meet a scribe to whom Jesus accords great honor: And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (v. 34) In contrast to the other Pharisees, this scribe seems to be asking genuine questions, seeking truth. This scribe heard “them” – his colleagues? – disputing with one another and Jesus, and seeing that Jesus had responded well asked a sincere question (v. 28). Then he gave strong support to Jesus’ response, going further by saying that these two commandments were much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (v. 33b). Essentially he was setting himself (and Jesus) against the temple authorities (mostly the Sadducees) and their regimen of daily sacrifices, placing personal beliefs and behaviors above public displays – no matter how well-intentioned these public displays were. I can imagine the reception he must have gotten from his fellow Pharisees, both lauding him and chastising him for siding with Jesus against the Sadducees.

So, did this scribe later become one of Jesus’ followers? Maybe we know him, from later in the Gospels or Acts…??

Slava Bohu!