12:28 Now 2 one of the experts in the law 3 came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus 4 answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
1 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ.
2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
3 tn Or “One of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
4 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
4 tn Grk “answering, they said to Jesus.” The participle ἀποκριθέντες (apokriqentes) is redundant, but the syntax of the phrase has been modified to conform to English style.
5 sn Very few questions could have so completely revealed the wicked intentions of the religious leaders. Jesus’ question revealed the motivation of the religious leaders and exposed them for what they really were – hypocrites. They indicted themselves when they cited only two options and chose neither of them (“We do not know”). The point of Mark 11:27-33 is that no matter what Jesus said in response to their question they were not going to believe it and would in the end use it against him.
6 sn Neither will I tell you. Though Jesus gave no answer, the analogy he used to their own question makes his view clear. His authority came from heaven.
7 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ. This is exactly the same phrase as in v. 28.