Love is the clearest evidence that we belong to the kingdom of God.

Mark 12:28–34

v. 28 —A scribe hears the debate and approves Jesus’s answers. He asks Jesus to summarize the entire law.

—Scribes were experts in the law.

—This verse is bookended with Jesus’s response to the scribe in verse 34.

vv. 29 —31—Jesus answers the scribe’s question.

—He quotes Deuteronomy 6:4–5.
—The Shema (שׁמע), called so by the first word in the phrase (Hear), is often quoted by the Jewish people as a confession to the singular uniqueness of God—He is undivided, and there is no other god besides Him.
—Deuteronomy 6:5 carries a force of command.
—Because God is undivided, our love for Him should be undivided—whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
—The ability to love one’s neighbor as yourself demonstrates our love for God.
—These are the greatest commands.

vv. 32–33 —The scribe approves Jesus’s answer while answering the question himself.

—He quotes Deuteronomy 4:35—The LORD is one (undivided) and unique (there is no other).
—These commands are more important than offerings and sacrifices (Remember, Jesus just pronounced His judgment on the temple).

v. 34 —Jesus turns the conversation on its head and approves the scribe’s response, bookending the passage with ver 28.

—Jesus tells the scribe that he is not far from entering the kingdom of God, which implies that the scribe is not in the kingdom of God. Why is he still on the outside? Because he has yet to accept and love Jesus, who is LORD (Mark 12:35–37).