Mar 12:28-34 | PNT | STEP | One of the scribes came . See notes on . Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, "tempting him" ( ); that is, "testing him".

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, "tempting him" (Mt 22:35); that is, "testing him". Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. This commendation, not given by Matthew, is given because the scribe had declared that outward obedience amounted to nothing unless the heart was right. Pharisaism consisted of forms and paid little attention to love, mercy, and purity of heart. Alford says: ``This man had hold of that principle in which law and gospel are one. He stood, as it were, at the door of the kingdom of God. He only wanted (but the want was indeed a serious one) repentance and faith to be "within" it. The Lord shows us here, that even outside his flock, those who can answer discreetly, who have knowledge of the "spirit" of the great command of law and gospel, are nearer to being of his flock than the formalists; but then, as Bengel adds, "If thou art not far off, enter; otherwise it were better than thou wert far off".''