Mark 12:29 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus roots the whole of faith in the oldest confession of God''s people: the Lord our God is one.
The Context of Mark 12:29
A scribe has just asked Jesus which commandment is first of all (verse 28), in the temple during Jesus'' final week. Jesus answers by reaching for the words every faithful Israelite knew by heart, the Shema, recited morning and evening, taken from Deuteronomy 6:4. Shema is the Hebrew word for hear, the opening word of that confession.
What Does Mark 12:29 Mean?
When asked for the first commandment, Jesus does not invent something new; He reaches back to the words at the center of His people''s life. Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord. This was the Shema, prayed every morning and evening in faithful homes, taught to children, written on doorposts. Jesus begins where Israel had always begun, with the great truth that God is one and is theirs. Everything else, all the love and obedience that follow, grows from this single root.
There is something moving in seeing Jesus hold these ancient words so dear. The One being questioned in the temple is the very God this confession proclaims, now standing among His people in flesh. He grounds all of love and life in the oneness of God, and then calls us to love that God with everything we are. The first commandment is not a burden He lays on us from outside; it is the heartbeat of knowing the God who made us and came to us.
Mark 12:29 in the Original Language
shema (שְׁמַע), 'hear' -- the opening Hebrew word of Israel''s daily confession, meaning to hear and to heed.
How to Apply Mark 12:29 Today
Before any command to do, there is a call to hear. Jesus invites us to begin where He begins, with the truth that God is one and is ours, and to let everything else grow from there. To love God fully starts with truly listening to who He is.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 12:29
What does Mark 12:29 mean?
Jesus roots the whole of faith in the oldest confession of God''s people: the Lord our God is one.
What is the context of Mark 12:29?
A scribe has just asked Jesus which commandment is first of all (verse 28), in the temple during Jesus'' final week. Jesus answers by reaching for the words every faithful Israelite knew by heart, the Shema, recited morning and evening, taken from Deuteronomy 6:4. Shema is the Hebrew word for hear, the opening word of that confession.
How can I apply Mark 12:29 today?
Before any command to do, there is a call to hear. Jesus invites us to begin where He begins, with the truth that God is one and is ours, and to let everything else grow from there. To love God fully starts with truly listening to who He is.