Jesus' response to the scribe's question is surprisingly brief, but sometimes brevity is the hallmark of greatness. Consider the fact that the Lord's prayer consists of only 66 words. The Gettysburg address has only 286 words. The ten commandments consist of 179 words, and, on the other hand, the US government regulations concerning the sale of cabbage totals 26,911 words. Why is Jesus' answer so powerful? Because he is not talking about cabbage, he is talking about our lives and our relationship with God. The short answer, in fact, encapsulated Dt. 6:4 and Lv. 19:18 as well as the law and the prophets.