The Most Important Commandment

28 Now one of the scribes came up and heard them debating, and when he [fn]realized that Jesus had answered them well, he asked him, “Which is the most important commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered [fn]him, “The most important [fn]of all the commandments is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord [fn]our God, the Lord is one. 30 And yoʋ shall love the Lord yoʋr God with all yoʋr heart, with all yoʋr soul, with all yoʋr mind, and with all yoʋr strength.’ [fn]This is the most important commandment. 31 [fn]And a second like it is this: ‘Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “Yoʋ are right, Teacher. In truth yoʋ have said that God is one, and that there is no other besides him, 33 and that to love him with all yoʋr heart, with all yoʋr understanding, [fn]with all yoʋr soul, and with all yoʋr strength, and to love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself is greater than every whole burnt offering and sacrifice.” 34 When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, he said to him, “Yoʋ are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him questions anymore.