July 1st, 2012 Vol.19 No.27
You must love
(Mark 12:28-34; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18b)
A. What is the most important commandment? (18-23)
1) The first commandment (28-30; Deuteronomy 6:5)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (28-30)
2) The second commandment (31, Leviticus 19:18b)
The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." (31)
B. The difference between Jesus and the teachers of the law (32-34)
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (32-34)
1) The religious teachers saw the first commandment as being separate from the second.
2). Jesus knew that the two commandments could not be separated.
Summary
The most important thing we do in our lives is to love God. To love God is to serve him, to worship him, and to do his will with our whole hearts, minds, and strength. This is what Jesus answered to the question, "What is the most important commandment?" To the surprise of the teachers of the law, Jesus linked the first commandment with the second--to love your neighbor as yourself--declaring that "there is no commandment greater than these." He teaches that we cannot separate the two. Unless we love God, we cannot love others, and conversely, unless we love others, we are not loving God as we should.
For Discussion
1) Why did Jesus mention the second commandment when he was asked which was most important?
2) What does it mean that you are not far from the kingdom of God?
You must love
(Mark 12:28-34; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18b)
A. What is the most important commandment? (18-23)
1) The first commandment (28-30; Deuteronomy 6:5)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (28-30)
2) The second commandment (31, Leviticus 19:18b)
The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." (31)
B. The difference between Jesus and the teachers of the law (32-34)
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (32-34)
1) The religious teachers saw the first commandment as being separate from the second.
2). Jesus knew that the two commandments could not be separated.
Summary
The most important thing we do in our lives is to love God. To love God is to serve him, to worship him, and to do his will with our whole hearts, minds, and strength. This is what Jesus answered to the question, "What is the most important commandment?" To the surprise of the teachers of the law, Jesus linked the first commandment with the second--to love your neighbor as yourself--declaring that "there is no commandment greater than these." He teaches that we cannot separate the two. Unless we love God, we cannot love others, and conversely, unless we love others, we are not loving God as we should.
For Discussion
1) Why did Jesus mention the second commandment when he was asked which was most important?
2) What does it mean that you are not far from the kingdom of God?