Mar 12:28-34 | RWP | e4.org | Heard them questioning together ( ακουσας αυτων συνζητουντων ). The victory of Christ over the Sadducees pleased the Pharisees who now had come back with mixed emotions over the new turn of things ( ). represents one of the scribes as commending Jesus for his skilful reply to the Sadducees. Mark here puts this scribe in a favourable light, "knowing that he had answered them well" ( ειδως οτ καλως απεκριθη αυτοις ). "Them" here means the Sadducees. But says that this lawyer ( νομικος ) was "tempting" ( πειραζων ) by his question. "A few, among whom was the scribe, were constrained to admire, even if they were willing to criticize, the Rabbi who though not himself a Pharisee, surpassed the Pharisees as a champion of the truth." That is a just picture of this lawyer. The first of all ( πρωτη παντων ). First in rank and importance. has "great" ( μεγαλη ). See discussion there. Probably Jesus spoke in Aramaic. "First" and "great" in Greek do not differ essentially here. Mark quotes . as it stands in the LXX and also . adds the summary: "On these two commandments hangeth ( κρεματα ) the whole law and the prophets."

‏ Mark 12:28-34

Heard them questioning together ( ακουσας αυτων συνζητουντων ). The victory of Christ over the Sadducees pleased the Pharisees who now had come back with mixed emotions over the new turn of things (Mt 22:34). Lu 20:39 represents one of the scribes as commending Jesus for his skilful reply to the Sadducees. Mark here puts this scribe in a favourable light, "knowing that he had answered them well" ( ειδως οτ καλως απεκριθη αυτοις ). "Them" here means the Sadducees. But Mt 22:35 says that this lawyer ( νομικος ) was "tempting" ( πειραζων ) by his question. "A few, among whom was the scribe, were constrained to admire, even if they were willing to criticize, the Rabbi who though not himself a Pharisee, surpassed the Pharisees as a champion of the truth." That is a just picture of this lawyer.

The first of all ( πρωτη παντων ). First in rank and importance. Mt 22:36 has "great" ( μεγαλη ). See discussion there. Probably Jesus spoke in Aramaic. "First" and "great" in Greek do not differ essentially here. Mark quotes De 6:4f. as it stands in the LXX and also Le 19:18. Mt 22:40 adds the summary: "On these two commandments hangeth ( κρεματα ) the whole law and the prophets."

And the scribe said ( ειπεν αυτω ο γραμματευς ). Mark alone gives the reply of the scribe to Jesus which is a mere repetition of what Jesus had said about the first and the second commandments with the additional allusion to 1Sa 15:22 about love as superior to whole burnt offerings.

Well ( καλως ). Not to be taken with "saidst" ( ειπες ) as the Revised Version has it following Wycliff. Probably καλως (well) is exclamatory. "Fine, Teacher. Of a truth ( επ' αληθειας ) didst thou say."

Discreetly ( νουνεχως ). From νους (intellect) and εχω, to have. Using the mind to good effect is what the adverb means. He had his wits about him, as we say. Here only in the N.T. In Aristotle and Polybius. Νουνεχοντως would be the more regular form, adverb from a participle.

Not far ( ου μακραν ). Adverb, not adjective, feminine accusative, a long way ( οδον understood). The critical attitude of the lawyer had melted before the reply of Jesus into genuine enthusiasm that showed him to be near the kingdom of God.

No man after that ( ουδεις ουκετ ). Double negative. The debate was closed ( ετολμα, imperfect tense, dared). Jesus was complete victor on every side.