The Greatest Commandments

Introduction: Rules are kinda funny in that we don’t often think about them until we break them.

If I were to ask you which rule at North Hills is your favorite, you might not have an answer. Is it the dress code?

Is it that you have to be on time for school?

Is it that you can’t bring any drinks into class other than your water bottle?

What about that you have to actually do your work?

We often think about rules and laws as restrictive.

But when it comes to God’s rules, it’s an important question to ask. And that’s exactly what someone asked Jesus.

Transition to the Text: Turn with me in your Bibles to Mark 12:28-31. When Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago, he evoked a lot of mixed emotions. Not everyone knew what to make of Him or do with Him.

Some thought He was a good teacher. Others a trouble maker. Some accused Him of being demon possessed.

One thing you couldn’t do was ignore Him.

And people loved to ask Him questions. And the Mark were inspired to write them down so we too can learn from them.

Read: Mark 12:28-31

Mark 12:28–31 ESV

28 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?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 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.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Big Idea: The Greatest COMMANDMENTS are to Love GOD and Love PEOPLE.

1. Desire to be RIGHT with God. (Mark 12:28)

Explanation: Unlike a lot of interactions with Jesus, the scribe is commended for being wise in this question. His heart is in the right place. He wants to be right with God. He’s not trying to test Jesus. He just wants to know what is expected of him.

The same is true of us today. We need to know what it takes to be saved from our sins. So we have to come to scripture and taking it at face value.

Too many look for loopholes.

What’s the most I can do and still go to heaven?

But that’s the wrong attitude.

We should have an unapologetic and unwavering desire to know God and to do what he says.

Especially if it’s different from the world.

Illustration:

Application:

2. LOVE God and put Him FIRST. (Mark 12:29-30)

Explanation: In answering the question, Jesus goes to the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to be precise.

God doesn’t just want our reluctant obedience. He wants our hearts. He wants our obedience to be out of love.

But the truth is most of us are rebellious by nature.

We don’t naturally want God. We want to be God.

And because of that any rules placed on us are seen as hinderances.

And then when someone tells us that we have do something, we call them a legalistic.

But look at what Jesus said,

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 John 5:1–5 ESV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Illustration:

Application: Do you love God? Are you putting Him first?

Do you see His commands as burdensome?

What needs to change in your life?

3. LOVE God by loving your NEIGHBOR. (Mark 12:31)

Explanation: If Jesus had stopped at loving God many of us would have been happier. But then He takes it a step further.

The second is like it….Love your neighbor as yourself.

Part of loving God is loving people. Even your enemies.

Matthew 5:43–44 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

1 John 4:19–20 ESV

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

1 John 4:21 ESV

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Loving God and loving your neighbor is inextricably linked that you can’t have one without the other.

You can’t love God if you don’t love others. And you won’t truly love others until you love God.

Illustration: So many of us have a problem with this. We want to say we love God and then turn around and hate people. Hold grudges. Demand that a person suffer.

Love people means letting things go.

Application:

Response: Do you LOVE God and PEOPLE?

Summation: Big Idea: The Greatest COMMANDMENTS are to Love GOD and Love PEOPLE.

1. Desire to be RIGHT with God. (Mark 12:28)

2. LOVE God and put Him FIRST. (Mark 12:29-30)

3. LOVE God by loving your NEIGHBOR. (Mark 12:31)

Closing Illustration: At North Hills we are all about loving God, but we also want love one another.

Love God.

Love others.

That includes people you like and people you don’t like.

Love your enemies.

Love your friends.

Love those who hate you.

Let’s pray.