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Mark 12:28\u201334\nOne of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, \u201cOf all the commandments, which is the most important?\u201d Jesus replied, \u201cThe most important commandment is this: \u2018Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.\u2019 The second is equally important: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 No other commandment is greater than these.\u201d The teacher of religious law replied, \u201cWell said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.\u201d Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, \u201cYou are not far from the Kingdom of God.\u201d And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.\n\nDeuteronomy 6:4\u20135\n\u201cListen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.\n\nLeviticus 19:18\n\u201cDo not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.\n\n1 John 4:19\nWe love each other because he loved us first.\n\nEphesians 2:10\nFor we are God\u2019s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.\n\nLuke 10:29\u201337\nThe man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, \u201cAnd who is my neighbor?\u201d Jesus replied with a story: \u201cA Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. \u201cBy chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. \u201cThen a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, \u2018Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I\u2019ll pay you the next time I\u2019m here.\u2019 \u201cNow which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?\u201d Jesus asked. The man replied, \u201cThe one who showed him mercy.\u201d Then Jesus said, \u201cYes, now go and do the same.\u201d\n\nEcclesiastes 4:12\nA person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.\n\nEphesians 4:29\nDon\u2019t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.