Thursday: The Greatest Commandment
Daily Lesson for Thursday 29th of August 2024
Read Mark 12:28-34. What deep question did the friendly scribe ask, and what double response did Jesus give?
Up to this point in the Gospel of Mark, most of the religious leaders, with few exceptions, are antagonistic to Jesus. This is particularly true in Jerusalem, where Jesus has confronted the leadership over temple worship—that which stands at the heart of Judaism. Thus, for a scribe to listen to the disputes and appreciate Jesus’ responses displays both honesty and courage in face of the prevailing animosity toward Jesus. It would be easier to just stand back and watch, even if one were in sympathy with Jesus. But this man does not do that.
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The scribe cuts to the heart of religion with his question as to which commandment is the most important. Jesus responds with simplicity and clarity, quoting the Shema, the confession of faith in Judaism from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The greatest commandment, says Jesus, is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—that is, with the totality of who you are. Jesus gives the scribe a bonus by listing the second most important commandment, citing the Old Testament again, this time from Leviticus 19:18, to love your neighbor as yourself.
Sometimes people wonder how it is possible to command love. The cultural context of the command in Deuteronomy helps explain. The language comes from ancient treaties between parties, and the term for “love” refers to being faithful to the requirements of the treaty, faithfully fulfilling them. Thus, while it does not rule out the concept of deep affection between parties, it is much more focused on actions that demonstrate such loyalty.
The scribe was honest and saw the clarity and simplicity of Jesus’ response and said so. One can imagine scowls from other religious leaders since the honest scribe has affirmed Jesus’ reply as valid, something no one else was willing to do. Jesus also affirmed the scribe for his honest answer, saying he was not far from the kingdom of God. Not far does not mean inside. What the scribe still needed was to recognize who Jesus was and follow Him, a further step in the journey of faith.
How do we learn to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves? Why is the Cross the key to following these commands?
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How do we learn to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves?
It's been said that "love awakens love!" In other words, experiencing love, stirs up a desire to return love. Unfortunately it also similarly works with anger. I digress. You can't give what you don't have, but you can get what you don't have, to give away.
As a child, my mother, probably more than anyone else, taught me how to love. We humans aren't born naturally giving and loving. We come out of the womb kicking, crying, and screaming. You never have to teach children to keep things to themselves, but to share, to be kind. Sadly some children never learn those lessons and grow up into narcissistic, selfish, and dysfunctional beings.
When we realize how much, "God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, (reviling, cursing, hating, God) Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 God took the initiative and reached out to us even when we didn't deserve it. When we spend time contemplating the depth of God's love for sinners such as us, it's humbling. There is no greater demonstration of God's love for humanity corporately, and/or individually, than the Cross.
"It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour.
If we would be saved at last we must all learn the lesson of penitence and faith at the foot of the cross. Christ suffered humiliation to save us from everlasting disgrace. He consented to have scorn, mockery, and abuse fall upon Him in order to shield us. It was our transgression that gathered the veil of darkness about His divine soul and extorted the cry from Him, as of one smitten and forsaken of God. He bore our sorrows; He was put to grief for our sins. He made Himself an offering for sin, that we might be justified before God through Him. Everything noble and generous in man will respond to the contemplation of Christ upon the cross.... (Testimonies for the Church 4:374-376).
The Cross changes everything about what we think about God or others made in His Image. The ground is level there, we are all equally guilty, and yet equally offered forgiveness and pardon. When we realize just how much we have been forgiven, we will respond with the same amount of love. If we erroneously think that we weren't "that bad", we will tend to have a shriveled heart, and a Laodicean devotion. When we realize that even our "little sins", caused Christ to die for us, then we will have a greater understanding of the Love of Christ for us, and will have a more generous loving heart for God and others. Our devotion to Him will be more constant, sincere, and hot, instead of lukewarm.
How do we get there? Like anything else in life worth having, it takes time. It's the time best invested and never wasted. It will pay rich dividends in our day to day interactions with others and with God. My wife can tell when my quiet time is lacking. Truth be told, I can tell, and probably everyone else that interacts with me can too. We "tell on ourselves". What are our lives saying?
The religious academic who approached Jesus with the question about the most important commandment is in stark contrast to the other questions Jesus fielded that day. It is informative to consider the three episodes together.
The first query was essentially political - an entrapment question, where they thought that whatever answer Jesus gave, they could say he was wrong. Jesus neatly sidestepped that issue providing a principle that still applies for Christians today.
The second query was a theological issue - another entrapment question showing which side of the great Saduccee/Pharisee divide, Jesus would endorse. Once again, Jesus neatly sidestepped the issue giving an insight into eternal life that neither side understood. And again, Jesus reply also gave a valuable principle for us to consider - that there is a lot about eternal life we cannot even comprehend.
Finally one of the religious academics asks the big question about the greatest commandment and Jesus replies with the Shema. The scholar recognises the significance of the answer and responds:
It is a reminder that even amid hostility, there often lies a genuine search for truth and an understanding of the importance of the principle of love.
I have several atheist friends, who think that some of Christianity is ridiculous, yet when it comes to the importance of genuine care for one another and ethical behaviour exhibit the highest moral principles, They may ridicule what I believe but stand firm on the principle of my right to believe it. And in my own mind I know that these friends are not far from the Kindom of Heaven.
And as a final note: we know that only a few weeks after the crucifixion (Pentecost) many folk in the temple precinct became Christians. I often wonder how many of those converts were witnesses to the conversations discussed in this week's lesson.
Ho do we treat friends and family who "are not far from the kingdom"? Do we get frustrated at our failed attempts to "win them over"? Is there a point when we should draw the line and say enough is enough??
Oh I hope not. I often pray the Lord won't give up on me or take His Holy Spirit from me as David prayed (Psalm 51:11). He always reminds me though of Philippians 1:6 which says He will complete what He began in me. Praise Him for His promises, which are sure.
Wayne, Francis, and anyone else with the same question.
Yes, it's easy to get frustrated at our failed attempts to "win them over". Never forget that we are fighting a spiritual battle against spiritual forces. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal weapons but are mighty to the tearing down of spiritual strongholds.
We don't quit until either they, or we, breathe our last breath. We might not see this side of Heaven,the fruit of our efforts.
Keep fighting the good fight of faith for your friends and family.
Shalom!
That's a great question! I have the same one...I sometimes want to give up, but I can't . Anyone with answers?
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I made a choice early in life to walk contrary to my mother's belief, I ridiculed her God and chose to follow the one who offered immediate empowerment. I belittled my dad at a young age and took away his power of discipline. I left home at seventeen and determined to magnify and multiply all the benefits given me by the master of my life. I was 23 years old the night I died. Some how my life was restored. That marked the beginning of my divorce from the god of this world, I had with strength served him 20 years. Over the next 5 years things were changing in my life. The year my mother died I was in the process of preparing for baptism. She died Dec. 31 1989. I was baptized Jan 1990. I learned at my mother's funeral that she not only prayed for me all the days of my life, when I left home she organized an international team to have me, her wayward son, immersed in prayer 24 hours a day, every day of my life. She never told me. She knew how I would respond.
Unless Father tells you, leave him alone Ephraim is joined to his idols, never stop praying, and never stop sharing. I spent two weeks with my mother before she died, by Father's grace my mother didn't close her eyes in death until she saw with her own eyes her wayward son begin to walk with Jesus.
Thank you for the inspiring testimonies and comments
Because of our human and carnal nature we can only display genuine love if we are reprogrammed by the Holy Spirit. Rom 12:1,2 explains how it is done by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 then tells us that love is a fruit of the Spirit. So how can we make this happen in our lives? The answer is found in Ephesians 6:18 where the bible says that "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
The word supplication means to beg. The word persevere means to keep on doing something repeatedly. So Ephesians 6:18 is saying that we should be constantly begging for the infilling of the Holy Spirit for our selves and in others. This is what Jesus meant in Matt 5:6 when he said that only those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.
In previous lessons we read how Jesus was severely critical of the church leaders of his day. But Jesus came to save them just as much as he came to save the rest of the people, the disciples, and even us today. God interacts with us differently because each of us is different. Some people will respond to gentle encouragement while others will only hear if what is said to them is loud and boisterous. The Pharisee in today's lesson responded to the same Jesus who previously called him a hypocrite. What is important here is the fact the he took time to allow the Holy Spirit to work on his heart and he responded to the Spirit's convicting power.
The command to Love God... is in the opening of the referenced passage. I have studied this passage and in prayer asked Father to walk it out in my life, knowing myself well enough to know that this is impossible for me to do alone. Moses gives the how as an answer to Father's Deu. plea 5:29 Oh that they had such a heart in them, to fear me and to guard My commands always, so that it might be well with them and their children forever. This is the subject of my prayer, it's Father's desire for His children. The prayer in harmony with the desire of God, is a prayer He desires to answer. So Moses goes on in the passage giving instruction showing what this looks like as we walk in this world:Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (6) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (7) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (8) And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (9) And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
I have asked Father, and keep on asking, to place His word within me, and for it to be mightily upon me, a part of my DNA as it was before the fall. In proverbs 8:13 the writer says that to fear the Father is to Hate evil, in another place he says the Fear of Father is the beginning of Wisdom. Father tells us in Isaiah 11: His Spirit will be upon us and in us. The Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Understanding, the Spirit of Council, the Spirit of Strength, the Spirit of Knowledge, and the Spirit of the Fear of Father. Its the only place I have found the 7 Spirits of Father are listed (the light of the Menorah shines forward upon the people). He goes on to say that the purpose for the giving of the Spirit is so that we Breathe in the Fear of the Father, and we will rightly rule in righteousness. This passage speaks of Jesus, but I understand that the same Spirit that was upon and within Jesus, is the same Spirit He calls the Comforter. I pray for this Spirit always, Without it we're dead in trespass and sin with with no possibility of revival.
This but a single breath in life when we examine all that the Word has to say about what it means to Love Father. It will take all the time and experience this life has to offer, to begin to understand the meaning of this The Greatest Commandment. It is expressed in every interaction with our fellow man, without it the second command has no value. Only the Author of Life can instruct us on what sharing life really looks like. Love inherently shares life, The Father is Love.
It has been brought to my attention that I made a remark in my commentary on Thursdays lesson, which could potentially have a double meaning or be misunderstood.
This is the statement in question;
"You never have to teach children to keep things to themselves, but to share, to be kind."
I didn't realize the phrase "to keep things to themselves" could be misconstrued to mean, not to tell other people, to be "blabbermouths". I meant to convey that you don't have to teach children to be selfish. Indeed you do have to teach them not to be "blabbermouths". 😁
I'm currently recovering from Covid so I will claim "Covid-brain" as an excuse. I'm not sure what to claim the rest of the time. 😉😊
Have a blessed day!
Why do so many Christians attempting to live the ‘Way of Christ’ give it a bad reputation? Could it be that they do not fully recognize or accept unreservedly the core message of what it means to follow Jesus Christs? And what is this core conviction which needs to be present before they can truly say that they are a Christian? Is it not to love God with all their 'soul' – with all their heart, mind, and strength?
Considering that no aspect of man is left out of that which constitutes the living soul – man, all of what we are is involved when we love God! 1 John 4:20 clearly points out that we cannot say that we love God if we still 'hate' our fellow man. When we repented we accepted God's gift of our new nature by faith, which we now express by loving our heavenly Father by loving our fellow man.
To me, this new nature is the field which is being plowed and tilled constantly; the place where we can put our love for God into practice - reaping a plentiful harvest or a meager one. By investing our new nature wholeheartedly, laying all stones which are unearthed by His plow onto His altar of Grace, we are leaving it up to Him to complete His good work throughout our lifetime – Phil.1:6.
I like that,die to our human weakness ,we can only display love if we are programed by the Holy spirit.
I can't. I can't love like that, Jesus. You, on the other hand, seem very loving, no matter how many annoyances you're experiencing. Maybe...can you help me to love God and other people like that?
If the scribe had said something in that vein, I think Jesus would have said, "Welcome to the kingdom of God" rather than, "You're really close, but also still so far." Knowledge of truth can bring us closer to seeing God, but nothing brings us inside the rest and peace of God's kingdom except the purity of 100% full submission to Jesus.
So where does that leave me? Jesus asks me if I can love God in this comprehensive way. How am I doing with this? When I hear the Shema the "should's" start in my mind. I should love God and others this way. I don't. It's a high bar, way way up so high I know from trying that there is no way I'm going to achieve this.
Somehow it seems easier to love God like this than to love people like this...easier to love the all-loving Being who is always there for me but who I can't see.... than to love the not all-loving beings who aren't always there for me and whom I can see (John disagrees with me in 1 John 4:20-21). And love them "as myself"....which I interpret as loving in a reflexive, instinctual sort of action where I don't really have to think about doing it. Loving my "neighbor"...which from the Good Samaritan parable I know means instinctively stopping my whole agenda for anyone God brings across my path. I can't pick who to be loving to, or when. It's decided for me by God. And the request of me is real: take care of that person with a genuine interest and compassion. Yes healthy boundaries, but look at what Jesus's daily schedule was like, and the disciples following Him. Full days. Personal time? Not much. Able to proceed as planned? Not much.
My weakness is exposed. I can sputter that I have caretaker burnout. I'm tired. Living with an extremely anxious loved one with Alzheimer's 24/7 is nerve-bending, brain-rattling. Jesus proclaims the law so I can despair. So the scribe can despair. Despair of his own efforts to measure up to God's standard. Rescue - salvation - through our own struggle to keep this or any of God's laws through our own efforts is an impossibility.
Then comes Jesus' next question: So, can you rest in my sacrifice then? Because when I'm resting in Jesus' love I won't even be asking such a "listy" question as which law is the most important. I'll be watching HIM fulfill all of His laws in me (Matt. 5:17). I'll be letting Jesus serve me as He said He does in Mark 10:45 (He's STILL serving me in heaven (Heb. 7:25); thankfully it wasn't a one-and-done thing!), and the grace and love of watching Him serve me will soften and grow me.
Please Lord, help me to see You more clearly at work this way. Thank You for being with me always, Amen.
Heb.7:25 "Thank God, it was not a one & done thing".■ Paul says it was a one & done.(Rom.6:10;Heb 9:26;1 Pet.3:18).■ I'm encouraged by your post.■Jesus maintains my cemetery plot daily, & the plots of all who die 2 self.He signed the maintenance contract b4 the foundations of our planet & renews the cemetery cleaning contract with new every morning love, as we awaken & daily die 2 self!What a mighty God we serve!Thank God it's not a virtual but real cemetery with dry bones he's cleaning & energizing with His heavenly oxygen tank!