“The most important one … is … Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mark 12:30-31
Jesus had been in debate with the religious leaders over theological issues—again. Mark’s gospel (as well as Matthew’s and Luke’s) notes Him using Deuteronomy 6:4-8 to tell what the greatest commandment is. God wants this on our hearts and impressed on our children.
Jesus puts these two commandments together, summarizing our relationship first to God and secondly to people. In loving God intimately, we will keep His commandments and grow in Him. We also learn to love well in human relationships. Our love for Jesus empowers us to love Him, others, and ourselves.
“You are not far from the kingdom of God” (v. 34). When we read Jesus’ response to the teacher of the law who was questioning Him, we get the feeling that the man had head knowledge but not heart knowledge. It makes me think of times I’ve shared the way of salvation with people and then watched them walk away so close to understanding, but still unchanged.
As the Lord’s ambassadors, we put our love of God and subsequent love of people foremost in our lives and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
Jesus puts these two commandments together, summarizing our relationship first to God and secondly to people. In loving God intimately, we will keep His commandments and grow in Him. We also learn to love well in human relationships. Our love for Jesus empowers us to love Him, others, and ourselves.
“You are not far from the kingdom of God” (v. 34). When we read Jesus’ response to the teacher of the law who was questioning Him, we get the feeling that the man had head knowledge but not heart knowledge. It makes me think of times I’ve shared the way of salvation with people and then watched them walk away so close to understanding, but still unchanged.
As the Lord’s ambassadors, we put our love of God and subsequent love of people foremost in our lives and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
Scripture Focus
Mark 12:28-34
Insight
The apostles Paul and Silas put in simplest terms the way of salvation: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Bible In A Year
- Isaiah 14-15
- Psalm 78
- John 19