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.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.
- BSB When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
- ESV And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- NKJV Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.
- NASB When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And then, no one dared any longer to question Him.
- NLT Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus commends the scribe's wise answer, saying he is near God's Kingdom. After this no one dared question Jesus further.
Overview
The man grasped that love fulfills the law, so Jesus tells him he is 'not far' from the Kingdom — close, yet still needing to enter through faith in Jesus himself. The silencing of his opponents marks the climax of the temple debates in Mark 11-12, where Jesus has answered every challenge. True nearness to the Kingdom comes not by clever insight alone but by trusting and following the King.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Col 4:6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
- Luke 20:40And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
- Matt 22:46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
- Rom 3:19–20Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- Rom 7:9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
- Titus 1:9–11Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
- Gal 2:19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
- Job 32:15–16They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
- Matt 12:20A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 12:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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