The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:28-34
Parallel passage: Matthew 22:34-40 .— Question about the greatest commandment. I. PUERILITIES OF THE PHARISEES . The Pharisees busied themselves about the letter of the Law, but had little practical acquaintance with its true spirit. The Jews generally divided the commandments of the Law into the preceptive and prohibitory—the "Do" and the "Do not;" nor was there anything amiss in this. But the Pharisees, we are told, counted the affirmative precepts, and found them as many... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:28-34
The essence of religion. I. THE LEADING IDEA FOR THE INTELLIGENCE . The unity of God, his personality, his supreme lovableness. "All love is lost save upon God alone." II. The leading maxim for the will. To love one's neighbor as one's self. Kant said, trying to translate the gospel into his own dialect, "Act so that the maxim of thy will may be the principle of an universal legislation." III. The moral surpasses the ritual in religion. Surpasses it by including it with... read more