The Greatest Commandment Revisited

This morning I would like to return to the subject of the great commandment. I

I would hate my own soul if I did not find it loving God.

St Augustine of Hippo

An old woman can love God better than a doctor of theology can.

St Bonaventure

Give me such love for God and men, as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Love unites the soul with God: and the more love the soul has the more powerfully it enters into God and is centered on him.

St John of the Cross

A man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.

Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis

Only through love can we attain communion with God.

Albert Schweitzer

Love of God is the root, love of our neighbor the fruit of the Tree of Life. Neither can exist without the other, but the one is cause and the other effect.

William Temple

Martin Manser, ed., Christian Quotations (Martin Manser, 2016).

Mark 12:28–34 CSB

One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

Five Political/Religious Groups at the time of Christ

Pharisees

Sadducees

Herodians

Scribes

Essenes

Remember something about this episode. There were four main groups of religious and political leaders really 5, but four that were openly opposed to the teachings of Christ. The four present at this moment were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and the scribes.

The one that was not supportive of Jesus but their opposition was not recorded in the Bible were the Essenes. The Essenes were the religious separatists. of Jesus day. They held the most live apart from the world views and followed extreme religious views. They formed their own communities and live a communal life.

The Herodians were not religious per se but were more supportive of the government. They were societal elites that hold more popular or political clout. Think of those that hold influence for no other reason than they come from families that have positions of political influence and wealth. The Herodians tended to look at Herod Antipas as God’s man who was put into power in order that the Jews would gain favor with the Romans. They saw Herod as a political hero of their day.

The Pharisees are the group that we read about most in scripture. They were a very legalistic type of group. They had very rigid views about how to live life. They not only followed the old testament with great rigor, they also had a large set of traditions that added many additional requirements and restriction to religious life. They sought to live a life separate from the unrighteous. In this way they were fundamentalists. The developed a system of beliefs designed (or so they thought) to guard against societal decline. They tended to be against the Roman government (especially opposition to Roman taxes). An extreme part of the Pharisees were the Zealots. The Zealots were forceful in their opposition to the government and at times were commited to acts of violence in this opposition.

The Sadducees were minimalists. They held to the basic teachings of the law according to the Old Testament. That is to say if it was not written in the book of the Law then is was not from God. Thus they rejected the oral tradition of the Pharisees. They denied resurrection, and angels. They believed that men had the freewill choice of good or evil. They were literalists with regard to the the punishments of the Old Testament. They also tended to be in support of the Roman government. As a result they tended to be more political than the Pharisees.

The Scribes also held a high view of scripture. They were meticulous about following the letter of the law. This is in part due to their role in keeping accurate copies of Old Testament scrolls. They tended to be the most educated and scholarly with regard to religious traditions. However, in spite of their high view of scripture they tended to align themselves with the Pharisees with regard to human traditions. They also were very much like the Pharisees in that outward observance of religious practices were much more important than following the principles of love, mercy, and compassion.

It is interesting to note that three of the groups (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes) that Jesus had the greatest conflicts with were the three groups for whom understanding and applying scripture was the most important focus of their lives. Because of their differing views with regard to tradition and government, they often were in strong opposition to one another. However, when it came to Christ they found something that they could unite against. What is more the Herodians who had a more political bent also found they could unite with these groups against Christ. It is this context that Jesus chose to teach these four groups about love.

The immediate context is that the Pharisees and Herodians attempting to get Jesus to say something against the government, and the Sadducees attempting to trip up Jesus in his spiritual beliefs by presenting an impossible scenario with regard to the resurrection (which of course they did not believe in). The scribe then took a path of trying to trip up Jesus with regard to religious practice. He asked Jesus what was the most important command. Getting Jesus to take a position would have aligned him with one of the several opposing groups. I suspect that the scribe believed that Jesus would have been trapped no matter how he answered the question.

Foolish Debates and Slander

We read in Romans 14:1 “Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.” and in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 “As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.” and in Titus 3:8-9 “This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.”

Romans 14:1 CSB

Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.

1 Timothy 1:3 CSB

As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine

1 Timothy 1:4 CSB

or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.

Titus 3:8 CSB

This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

Titus 3:9 CSB

But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.

It would seem that these groups were very much devoted to foolish debates and disputes. They were attempting to draw Jesus into these debates as well. It is is on this occasion that Jesus introduces the Greatest Commandment. Imagine four groups that could not stand each other in many circumstances, united in their opposition to Christ is the moment of God’s revelation of the most important commandment to Love God and Love our neighbors. It was the most unlikely crowd, in the most unlikely circumstance. Jesus side steps the religious and political debate to say love is the most important focus.

Let me just say that this is a very timely lesson for our generation. We seemed to be overwhelmed by religious and political debate all around us. There is many who see the debate of these matters to be the primary importance of their lives. And yet as you look over the landscape one things is most obviously missing between these groups. There is no love! Missing from these conversations is: humility, kindness, civility, patience, and compassion for others. Love is so far removed from these conversations that we celebrate rude and mocking remarks as winning blows in debate. Slander and backbiting is the norm for those that disagree.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Proverbs 25:23

How we must discourage sin and witness against it, and particularly the sin of slandering and backbiting; we must frown upon it, and, by giving it an angry countenance, endeavour to put it out of countenance. Slanders would not be so readily spoken as they are if they were not readily heard; but good manners would silence the slanderer if he saw that his tales displeased the company. We should show ourselves uneasy if we heard a dear friend, whom we value, evil-spoken of; the same dislike we should show of evil-speaking in general. If we cannot otherwise reprove, we may do it by our looks

Slander and Backbiting is a offence to God as we read in Psalm 101:5

Psalm 101:5 CSB

I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor; I cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.

David is speaking against this type of behavior. It is this type of dialog that is most unloving. It is in the midst of this unloving, uncharitable, unkind dialog that Jesus brings forth the most important command: Love God and love your neighbor.

Love God and Love Your Neighbor

The Scribe asks Jesus what is the greatest commandment. Jesus was perfectly in tune with his audience. He answered with two Old Testament quotes. In Deuteronomy 6:5 we read:

Deuteronomy 6:5 CSB

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Then in Leviticus 19:18 we read:

Leviticus 19:18 CSB

Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Jesus leaves little doubt what exactly he is say by concluding, “There is no other command greater than these.” It is astonishing to me that we can encounter resistance as the people of God by loving God and loving our neighbor. But we must be careful for if we fall into hateful and slanderous ways then we risk being on the same side as the world when the world opposes God. You see these groups of people that Jesus was saying these things to were not the fringe antisocial god haters. No these were the religious and political leaders of his day.

Jesus Says to Love God with our:

Heart

Soul

Mind

Strength

The list conveys the idea that with the totality of your being, love God

What exactly does it mean to love God. Notice that Jesus says with heart, soul, mind, and strength we are to love God. Now much can be made about each of these categories love with the heart, love with the soul, love with the mind, and love with strength. And maybe you have heard a message that does a deep dive into these areas. But the list seems to convey the idea that with the totality of your being love God. Now as a life long believer (since I accepted Christ as my savior when I was 9 years of age) I can honestly say that I have yet to accomplish loving God with the totality of my being. I think this will be a pursuit until the day that I pass away. This ideal of loving God with everything that I am is a high ideal that keeps me striving to become more and more the man that God desires me to be. What is more this love this utter devotion to God becomes the fulfillment of God’s Word in me as I indwelled by His Holy Spirit I strive to do good works which advance the kingdom of God. You see that is our calling as Christians. We are to live sold out lives to Christ and glorify him.

You see this love that Jesus is stating here is not some feeling of fondness or affection. It is a devotion, it is a complete devotion. not to a set of rules or beliefs, but the the person of God. We are in a committed and personal relationship with Him. It is the context of this type of love where there is no other thing ahead of God that we truly glorify Him. To love God in this way is to Glorify God. How do I glorify God? Brothers and sisters we must love him. That is the fulfillment of all that we were created to be. To put any other pursuit ahead of that is to place an idol of our heart and mind.

Rottenness in the Heart

Jesus was not rebuking the religious leaders for unholy conduct. No the rottenness in their case was on the inside. In Matthew 23:27 we read:

Matthew 23:27 CSB

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.

The deadness and impurity had polluted the heart, soul, and mind. True they attempted to love God in their own strength and with their words, but their unrighteousness was much deeper. In Matthew 15:8 we read

Matthew 15:8 CSB

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Billy Graham Said it this way:

I want you to think about that a moment. You draw close to Christ with your lips; with your profession; with your mouth; but your heart is far from Him.

Singing on Sunday morning, “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.” And you are thinking about a deal that you’ve got on Monday. You see, your singing the songs of Zion, but your heart is still somewhere else.

Is that true of you? How many of us are really hypocrites? If you want to just call it what it really is and what Jesus called it. Because Jesus great fight was with the religious leaders of his day. He didn’t fight with the sinners. He loved them.

Externally Focused Man-made Religion

Ultimately attempting to love God in our own strength becomes a pathway toward man made religion. You see we formulate an idea of what we think God is or ought to be and then defend with great zeal our opinion about these things. We also tend to at that point gravitate toward others who hold opinions similar our own. Further we tend to dismiss with intensity those that may disagree with us. The whole matter becomes self-reinforcing. It gives rise to many man made religions. It is also interesting to note that for the most part this process leads humans to more external focus of religion. In its extreme form appearing righteous is more important that being righteous. In Matthew 21:28-31 Jesus said

Matthew 21:28–31 CSB

“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’ “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

You see this parable gets at the heart of the matter. The first son unconcerned about appearing obedient to his father said plainly that he did not want to work. Later though he changed his mind. The transformation was in the mind. Do you catch that. The first son loved his father with his mind. The end result was obedience. The second son though was concerned about appearing obedient to his father. He said “I will sir.” With respect and dignity he told his father that he would do what his father wanted him to do. However, he did not go! This son loved him with words but not his heart. If anything he was more concerned with appearances than he was with loving obedience. This externalized religion is far from loving God. It has the appearance of godliness but denies the power (2 Timothy 3:5).

Agreeing with doctrine is not enough

In this parable tax collectors those that reject their own people and prostitutes that choose sexual immorality who later have a change of heart are getting into heaven before those that say the right things. What are we to make of this. Well let’s turn back to our text. In Mark 12:32-34 we read:

Mark 12:32–34 (CSB)

Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

We see here that the scribe was agreeing with Jesus’ theology. In fact he is considered wise in his theological understanding. Don’t miss this point. This man of religion was saying the right thing and demonstrating a level of spiritual wisdom based on his agreement with the teachings of Christ. And yet Jesus makes this statement. “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” It is interesting to note that this outward display of religious speech was enough to bring the scribe near to the kingdom but not into the kingdom. In this statement Jesus both acknowledged that understanding of the way to the kingdom of God, but also that entering the kingdom was more that having good theology. What is missing?

Incomplete Knowledge of Christ

Well the next set of verses point to two things. In Mark 12:35-37 we read

Mark 12:35–37 CSB

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

The scribes had an incomplete knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ. They understood that the Messiah was going to be from the lineage of David. However, they did not understand that the Messiah was also going to be from heaven. Further that the Messiah was the very Son of God. It is this question of who is Jesus Christ that is vital to our faith. Do we believe in the Son of God sent to take away the sins of the world. This is the theological belief that is the bedrock of our faith. But I said there was two things.

Misplaced Affection

What was the second issue? Well in Mark 12:38-40 we read:

Mark 12:38–40 CSB

He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

You see the scribes loved nice clothes. They loved special attention. They loved popularity. They loved being honored. They loved the attention of their position. They were putting on a show for people. Their love was rooted in elevation of self. If it made them look good then it was something they did all the more. In this way they failed to love God. But more than that as the love of God was far from them the love of neighbor was far from them as well. Notice Jesus says, “they devour widows’ houses.” It was oppression and not love that Jesus identified. There was no love for the poor and vulnerable. But more than neglect it was actually oppression that was their action.

A verse that bears repeating here is Matthew 15:8

Matthew 15:8 CSB

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

You see the scribe did not have a doctrinal problem he had a heart problem. When we say things that are theologically true, but neglect to love God and love our neighbor we demonstrate that God’s love is not in us. If God’s love is not in us then we are near, but not yet in the Kingdom of God. Why? Because we have not come to a place where we are surrendering our heart, soul, mind, and strength to love our Lord and God. We want to hold back just a bit. Maybe we love nice clothes, special attention, popularity, honor, or attention in the same way the scribes had. Or maybe we have placed some other idol ahead of God that we are unwilling to part with. The first commandment of the ten commandments is found in Exodus 20:3-6

Exodus 20:3–6 CSB

Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.

God’s LOVE is Toward Those That LOVE Him and Keep His Commands

This prohibition is simply the negative statement of loving God. If we love God then we do not set up any gods to worship. Notice these idols are anything in the heavens, on the earth, or below the earth that we worship and devote ourselves to. One final note before we wrap up this message. Notice that last statement in the command “Do not have other gods besides me.” We read that God shows faithful LOVE to a thousand generations of those who LOVE me and keep my commands. I cannot make it any more plain than the words of Christ Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37–40 CSB

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Let us pray