Matthew Henry Commentary Mark 12:28-34

"And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question." — Mark 12:28-34 (ASV)

Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment and teach His way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty.

Loving God with all our heart will commit us to everything by which He will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for people's transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power unless they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Savior and led to moral obedience. And because we have not loved God and man in this way, but have done the very reverse, we are therefore condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy.

Christ approved what the scribe said and encouraged him. He was in a good position to advance further, for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to the discovery of our need for mercy, and to understanding the way of justification by Christ.