Great Question
Opening Prayer
Pray this as you prepare to read today’s Bible passage, “I desire to do your will, O my God” (Psa. 40:8).
Read Mark 12:28-34
[28] 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?” [29] “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [31] The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” [32] “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. [33] 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.” [34] 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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment?The way Jesus had answered the other questions encouraged this man to step forward. In fact, there was a great deal of discussion at the time about which of the 613 commandments was the most important. Jesus’ answer was straightforward (29-31). He linked two quotations from the Old Testament. Every day, good Jews recited the first one (Deut. 6:4) as a morning and evening prayer. God is the only God and love for him is to be at the absolute center of our lives. But Jesus adds another dimension–“mind” (30) is not mentioned in Deuteronomy. Paul picks it up again in Romans 12:2. The second commandment, to love our neighbor (31), is from Leviticus 19:18. Having a right relationship with God has to flow over into all our relationships. Amazingly, the teacher is satisfied; and it is the only time in the Gospels when a scribe agrees with Jesus! But he goes even further than Jesus. Remarkably, he says that these commandments are all more important than sacrifices (33). Yet, despite all of this, Jesus only says that he is “not far from the Kingdom of God” (34). What more did he (and we) need to get there?
Apply
How, and how well, do you keep those two great commandments? How might you do an even better job?
Closing prayer
Lord, I don’t always love You or my neighbor as I should. Help me to learn how to do it.
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