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Jesus was debating and answering questions, when a scribe came along. Scribes copied out the Law of Moses and became experts in the law, they decided how it should be followed and were also known as teachers of the law. The scribe asked Jesus a question.

He did not ask to try and trick Jesus (as the Pharisees did over the payment of taxes) or to challenge him. Instead the scribe was genuinely interested in Jesus’ response. He asked Jesus which commandment was the most important.

Jesus answers his question by using scripture. He emphasises that we must love one another and love God. The first part of his answer was the Shema (the daily prayer that all Jews said):

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

The second part of his response was from the Book of Leviticus:

“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

The scribe is impressed with Jesus’ answer.

In this story we see an example of another religious leader who was not against Jesus. Jesus said that the scribe was not far from the Kingdom of God.