Mark 12:28-34

Love Like Jesus: The Heart of the Great Commandment

How many of you have heard the phrase, “love your neighbor like yourself?”

Does anybody know where that came from

Have you heard of something called the Shema?

It means to hear in Hebrew

It is the first word in the passage in Deut 6

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Religious Jews recite the Shema three times daily as part of their devotional life; no Sabbath worship is conducted in the synagogue without its proclamation.

It’s kind of like Catholics reciting the Lord’s Prayer

Tonight we are going to look at what it means to love like Jesus

Bible Passage: Mk 12:28-34

1. Love God Fully

Mark 12:28–30 ESV

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

A scribe is similar to a lawyer

They were knowledgable in the Law

This scribe has sincere intentions

He wants to know if Jesus is legit

Does he know the Jewish Law

Jesus replies by quoting the Shema

We are to love the Lord with everything we have

The combination of all four facets is meant to show our whole being

What does this type of love look like?

Deuteronomy 10:12 ESV

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Fear the Lord

Walk in His Ways

Worship Him

Serve Him

2. Love Others Deeply

Mark 12:31 ESV

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Jesus adds another commandment to the Shema

To love your neighbor as yourself

What does it mean to love your neighbor?

Hug them?

Cheer for them?

Be there for them?

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

3. Greater than Sacrifice

Mark 12:32–34 ESV

And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.