Thursday: The First Commandment
However much some Christians, for various reasons, seek to separate the Old Testament from the New, it can’t be done, at least not without all but denuding the New Testament of its true meaning. The New Testament, in its revelation of Jesus and its theological explanations of His life, death, resurrection, and High Priestly ministry, points to the fulfillment of many of the Old Testament prophecies and types. In many ways, the Old Testament forms the background, the context, the basis for the New. Both testaments reveal the goodness and love of God.
This is one reason why, over and over, the New Testament, including Jesus, quotes the Old.
Read Mark 12:28-30. What was the question asked about the “first commandment of all”? What does Jesus respond and from where does He get His answer?
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
It’s interesting that a scribe, someone who had dedicated his life to understanding the law and how it should be applied, would have asked this question. However, many laws they might have believed that they needed to obey (later Jewish tradition said that there were 613 laws), it’s not surprising that they would want it all distilled into one question.
And what does Jesus do?
He goes right to Deuteronomy 6, starting out with the “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4), and then quotes the next verse as well, about loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength. He pointed to the key affirmation of the Lord as their God, their only God, and based on that great truth, they are called to love Him supremely.
What could be more “present truth” than this command? In the very last days, when final events unfold and everyone will be called to choose one side or the other in a very dramatic way, the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12) will play a crucial role.
Ultimately, the side we choose, even in the face of persecution, will be based on whether or not we truly love God. That’s the deciding issue, and we can come to love God with all our heart and soul and might only as we come to know Him for ourselves and experience for ourselves His goodness, love, and grace. If need be, that’s something to die for.
| If someone were to ask you: How do people come to love a God that they have never seen personally, what would you say? In class, talk about your answer. |
(29)
The whole conversation recorded in Mark makes interesting reading:
This little conversation provides the golden thread running through the pages of history, linking Christianity, to its Hebrew predecessor and showing, ultimately, the very nature of God. Selfless practical genuine love for God and for our fellow man. There is no argument against that.
If we only see commandments as rules, we risk misunderstanding how life operates/functions - and we also risk misperceiving God. It is understandable that we could do this because we have been raised in a world that increasingly revolves around 'commandments' and compliance-enforcement of such.
Having looked into the notion of commandment in the original languages, the best way I can describe it is an "authoritative pre-scription". This means that someone who absolutely knows what they are talking about outlines ahead of time the path that will lead to a good outcome and the path that will lead to other than a good outcome. This is well outlined in Deuteronomy 28 and summarised again in Deuteronomy 30:15-20.
In principle, what God via Moses is doing is similar to the present day practice of "informed consent". Letting you know your options, the consequences of those options, and then giving you the freedom to make your choice - for better or for worse. Note that in Deuteronomy 30:16 Moses uses the language of commandments and statues and judgments - but then in Deuteronomy 30:19 parallels that choosing to be in accordance with these is in fact choosing life. Thus, 'commandments' are merely the details of how life is functionally chosen. While some people make conscious choices, many more actually make subconscious 'choice' via their moment-by-moment 'actions' (including attitudes and thoughts). Thus our actions both reflect as well as manifest our choice/s.
Are you intentionally linked with God and actively in the 'driver's seat' of your living today, intentionally making choices to love (be beneficent towards) others? Or are you passively in the 'passenger's seat' and like a pinball in a pinball machine*, merely reacting to what or who you come across in your day? This is actually how everyone is choosing "one side or the other".
-------------
* I appreciate that some readers may not be aware of what a pinball machine is. If not, you can google "pinball machine video".
Most of us believe in God, there fore, because of this fact, u cannot do ir change our minds of this fact..
Study read scripture n prayer praise God, this is how we win n he in return gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us n keep us safe..
From Genesis to the Revelation the Bible is One book. There is no separation, but rather, a united message, which at first are promises largely shown in types which are then fulfilled in Christ. The world created sinless, will at the end be restored sinless again. In between these two creations lies the story of Redemption and the Love of God through the Gospel of Christ. It should also be considered that without the Old Testament, the New Testament has no basis or validity. And without the New Testament, the Old Testament remains without fulfillment.
Many have studied history and have believed in the accounts that were passed on to future generations written by eyewitnesses. The Bible is such a book. Today, people of all nations will celebrate the birthday of one they have never met, or an event that took place long before their grandparents were born, with the same conviction and enthusiasm of one who was there. We cannot forget that Jesus said: “...when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”. Do we believe God's witnesses who have given their faithful testimony as prophets and apostles? Or like doubting Thomas, do we need to see with our own eyes? IF we say we believe, what do we believe and why?
What secular history books/records don't include which the Word of God does, is prophecy, along with the "perfect" Law of the Lord. Both, if given due consideration, provide a "sure word" to any who are open to receiving it, from which "faith cometh"(Rom 10:17).
After reading today’s lesson, what came to mind was nothing about this lesson, but the difference between how Peter reacted and how Judas reacted to their betrayal of Jesus. Peter went out and wept bitterly, Judas on the other hand, went out and hung himself. That to me shows who truly loved and knew Jesus. Both men were flawed, but one repented and wept bitterly, while the other man, in shame, hung himself, showing he really didn’t know or love Jesus at all.
That is just the random thought that came to mind while thinking about “if you love me, you will keep my commandments”.