Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 12:29

"Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:" — Mark 12:29 (ASV)

In answer to this question, Jesus quoted two passages from the OT (Dt 6:4–5 and Lev 19:18). The first of these is a confession of faith that is recited by pious Jews every morning and evening. It basically affirms two things: (1) the unity of God and (2) the covenant relationship of God with the Jewish people. God is to be loved completely and totally because he alone is God and because he has made a covenant of love with his people. In the covenant God gives himself totally in love to his people; therefore he expects his people to give themselves totally in love to him.