GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 12:34
Oh So Near
“Litotes” is a figure of speech in which a positive is expressed by negating its opposite. For example, “he is not a person of weak parts,” which means he is a strong person. Or, “that is not an ugly house,” which means the house is pretty.
Some writers think Jesus used the figure of speech “litotes” when he answered the scribe who questioned him about the greatest command. He affirmed that God is one, that He must be loved with the whole being, and that one must treat one’s neighbor as oneself. “And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And no one any longer dared to question him.’” (12:34)
If the scribe was not far from the Kingdom of God, then he must be near the Kingdom of God. He confessed that loving God and one’s neighbor is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices, i.e., memberships, liturgies, confessions, baptisms, pilgrimages, or symbols.
Having overcome the prejudices of his class, he had approached the borderland of the kingdom. He was not far from the kingdom. He was not far, but he still lacked taking the true pathway into the kingdom: faith in Christ as the way into the kingdom, the Savior of the world.
“But, Jesus, I was raised in the church. I was baptized. I attended Sunday school and church regularly. I wore a tiny cross necklace. I always treated my neighbor with dignity.”
“Yes, you are not far from the kingdom. But you have never trusted Christ as your Savior.”