This dialogue between Jesus and a Scribe occurs in one form or other in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It was a question often discussed among the teachers of the Law. Of all the commandments in the Law of Moses which one was the most important? In Mark's version which we read today, Jesus himself answers the question but in other versions he asks the Scribe for his opinion. In all cases the answer is the same and are direct quotations from the Law of Moses. However, instead of one commandment being given, there are two which are seen as inter-dependent. The first is to love God with all one's heart and soul and strength. But the second is to love the neighbour as oneself.

The first comes from the Book of Deuteronomy and the second from the Book of Leviticus. Two commandments, then, taken from two different books are now brought together and intimately linked to each other. This is a distinctive feature of Jesus' teaching. One cannot love and serve God without also taking care of the neighbour. Of course, in Luke's version of this story, there is a clarification of the word 'neighbour', where it is defined not just as someone living nearby but a person who takes care of another person in need.