The question is, how could both the scribe and Jesus know that the first commandment was the one found in Deut 6? One reason is it’s position in Deuteronomy is providing a basis for the many statutes and judgments. Another is that Moses and Joshua referred to it as “the” commandment. A third reason is the connection between both the first and second commandments and the Ten Commandments. The Ten are on two tablets of stone, and it is believed there were four on the first tablet, forbidding worship of any other god, any graven images, taking the LORD’s name in vain, and commanding to keep the sabbath holy. These all are related to loving God with all you are and have. The other six (honor parents, do not murder or commit adultery or steal or lie or covet) are related to people, as is the second command.
I’m not saying that the scribe saw this, but Jesus might have. In Mt. 12:33 He said this commandment was more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. In Mk. 7:12 He said the “golden rule” (similar to this commandment) is the law and the prophets. The NT writers also saw this. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Rom. 13:9). For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Gal. 5:14). James refers to the second command as the royal law according to the Scripture (Jas. 2:7).
We should note that in the Torah this command is somewhat tucked away amid many “statutes and judgments” in Lev. 19. Don’t cheat your neighbor, mistreat the physically handicapped, show partiality, gossip, or bear grudges. But you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD (19:18). So the scribe whose life was consumed by the Scriptures, and the Lord Jesus both understood these things.
So Jesus said to the man, You are not far from the kingdom of God. Wow! “Not far?” You might think the scribe could be “just in” the kingdom of God. But, no, he was “not far” but still outside the kingdom of God. Why? We should note first, that good theology should certainly lead to Christ. But it is never the same as “knowing Christ.” It is not the same as faith by which we can be born again by the Spirit and enter the kingdom.
Having said that, their follows to references by Jesus to the scribes, in 12:35, the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David, and 12:36, the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces …devour widows houses. The scribe does not know Jesus, and he is pursuing righteousness by works and not faith.
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