The Wise Scribe

 This Sunday's reading is from Mark 12:28-34,

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

 In the previous chapter of Mark's Gospel, Jesus handled the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees who were sent to trap him, and here he is faced with  a member of the "scribes" class which Jesus describes in verses 38 - 40 as bad folks,

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

The wise scribe agrees with Jesus and takes the next step by concluding correctly that loving one's neighbor as oneself is more important than all the burnt sacrifices still going on at the Temple in those days. 

When seen in light of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, a true act of love for you and me, there should no longer be any need for burnt offerings, but even the wise scribe could not see that coming.