Mark 12:33
And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 38
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτὸν
him
G846
αὐτὸν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 38
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐξ
with
G1537
ἐξ
with
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
5 of 38
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ὅλης
all
G3650
ὅλης
all
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
6 of 38
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καρδίας
the heart
G2588
καρδίας
the heart
Strong's:
G2588
Word #:
8 of 38
the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 38
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐξ
with
G1537
ἐξ
with
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
10 of 38
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ὅλης
all
G3650
ὅλης
all
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
11 of 38
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνέσεως
the understanding
G4907
συνέσεως
the understanding
Strong's:
G4907
Word #:
13 of 38
a mental putting together, i.e., intelligence or (concretely) the intellect
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 38
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐξ
with
G1537
ἐξ
with
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
15 of 38
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ὅλης
all
G3650
ὅλης
all
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
16 of 38
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ψυχῆς,
the soul
G5590
ψυχῆς,
the soul
Strong's:
G5590
Word #:
18 of 38
breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from g4151, wh
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
19 of 38
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐξ
with
G1537
ἐξ
with
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
20 of 38
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ὅλης
all
G3650
ὅλης
all
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
21 of 38
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἰσχύος
the strength
G2479
ἰσχύος
the strength
Strong's:
G2479
Word #:
23 of 38
compare ?????, a form of g2192); forcefulness (literally or figuratively)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
24 of 38
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
25 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
27 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πλησίον
his neighbour
G4139
πλησίον
his neighbour
Strong's:
G4139
Word #:
28 of 38
(adverbially) close by; as noun, a neighbor, i.e., fellow (as man, countryman, christian or friend)
ὡς
as
G5613
ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
29 of 38
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ἑαυτὸν
himself
G1438
ἑαυτὸν
himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
30 of 38
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
πλεῖόν
more
G4119
πλεῖόν
more
Strong's:
G4119
Word #:
31 of 38
more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
34 of 38
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὁλοκαυτωμάτων
whole burnt offerings
G3646
ὁλοκαυτωμάτων
whole burnt offerings
Strong's:
G3646
Word #:
35 of 38
a wholly-consumed sacrifice ("holocaust")
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
36 of 38
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Hosea 6:6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.1 Samuel 15:22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.Matthew 12:7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.Matthew 9:13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Psalms 50:23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.Hebrews 10:8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;Proverbs 21:3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Historical Context
Levitical sacrificial system formed the center of Jewish worship. Daily burnt offerings, sin offerings, and festival sacrifices filled the Jerusalem temple's schedule. Priests meticulously followed Mosaic regulations for acceptable sacrifices. Yet the prophets consistently warned against ritualism divorced from justice, mercy, and covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Micah 6:6-8). By AD 30, temple worship had become commercialized (hence Jesus cleansing the temple, Mark 11:15-17). This scribe, steeped in sacrificial system as a professional scholar, recognizes its limitations—love is the substance; ritual is the shadow. Within 40 years, Rome would destroy the temple (AD 70), ending the sacrificial system and confirming that Christ's once-for-all sacrifice superseded repeated offerings (Hebrews 10:1-18).
Questions for Reflection
- How might religious activities (church attendance, Bible reading, prayer) become substitutes for genuine love of God and neighbor?
- What does the scribe's hierarchy (love above sacrifice) teach about evaluating spiritual practices by their fruit rather than their form?
- How does Christ's final sacrifice fulfill what the Old Testament sacrificial system foreshadowed?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
To love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength—the scribe comprehensively restates Jesus' answer, emphasizing totality. Four faculties (καρδία, διάνοια, ψυχή, ἰσχύς—heart, understanding, soul, strength) encompass the whole person: affections, intellect, will, and physical capacity. God demands not partial devotion but complete self-surrender.
The scribe's climactic insight: such love is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (περισσότερόν ἐστιν πάντων τῶν ὁλοκαυτωμάτων καὶ θυσιῶν, perissoteron estin pantōn tōn holokautōmatōn kai thysiōn). The comparative περισσότερον ('more than,' 'surpassing') indicates not that sacrifices are worthless, but that love fulfills their intended purpose. Burnt offerings (holokautōma—complete consumption by fire) symbolized total consecration; animal sacrifices atoned for sin. Yet without love for God and neighbor, ritual becomes empty performance—precisely the prophetic critique (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24). Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 twice (Matthew 9:13; 12:7), emphasizing mercy over sacrifice. This scribe grasps that heart-reality exceeds ceremonial form.