The wisdom of the Saviour’s answers convicted the scribe. He knew that the Jewish religion consisted more in outward acts than inward piety. He had some sense of the unworthiness of merely ceremonial offerings, and the continual flowing of blood in expiation of sin, while the object of the offering was foreign from the mind. The principles of love and true goodness of heart appeared to him of more value in the sight of God than all these rites. The heart of Jesus went out in pity to the honest scribe who dared to face the frowns of the priests and threats of the rulers, and speak the honest convictions of his heart. “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.” {3SP 54.1}

Frelserens visdom overbeviste den lovkyndige. Han vidste, at jødernes religion bestod mere i udvortes handlinger end i indvortes fromhed. Han havde nogen forstand på, hvor lidt betydning de ceremonielle ofre havde og den vedvarende udgydelse af blod for at forsone synd, når hensigten med ofringerne var fremmed for sjælen. Den sande godheds og kærligheds grundsætninger forekom ham at være mere dyrebare for Gud end alle disse skikke. Jesus følte medlidenhed med den ærlige lovkyndige, som havde mod til at udsætte sig for præsternes mishag og de øverstes trusler og at udtale sit hjertes oprigtige overbevisning. "Og da Jesus så, at han svarede forstandigt, sagde han til ham: "Du er ikke langt fra Guds rige." Og ingen vovede mere at rette spørgsmål til ham." (34.vers)