Sermon Tone Analysis

Day of questioning continues

Passion week continues and a new face comes on the scene.

This time the questioning is not to trap or trip up Jesus but a question from the heart and there is much we can learn from it.

Previously:

He silenced the chief priests, scribes and the elders of the people regarding authority

They questioned where His authority came from and who gave it to Him

Then he tripped up some Pharisees and Herodians when they thought they had Him trapped

Are we to align and pay taxes to Caesar or not?

We know how He answered, render unto Caesar what is his and unto God what is His.

Then the ones who thought they were superior, the Sadducees thought they would bring division by their question, just brought more questions and teachings by Jesus.

Resurrection, is there really one, and if so, what about marriage

Jesus brings in some good teaching on this and understanding of scripture and they went away, but there was still someone there who was listening and it brings us to our passage today

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Having already silenced all the others Jesus is approached by this scribe who had a question (v.28); Jesus answered not with one but two commandments (v.29-30) and that brought about a response from the scribe about Jesus wisdom (vv.32-33) and then a bold statement by Jesus what we should not miss out on (v.34).

So the thing for us to ponder on today as we look at this passage is do we love God and our neighbor?

Do we understand the depth of that statement?

Both are commands so we will look at both this morning.

Before getting there want to give a little more information so you can see the significance of this scribe asking the question in the first place.

Scribes were the interpreters of the law and its many rules and regulations.

This has to do with both the written and the oral law

613 precepts given to Moses; 365 negative and 248 positive

That is a lot to remember, and there was much debate and discussion on what is the greatest of these divine commandments.

613, that is a lot, but check this out.

Law, commandments, oral and written

David took 613 and reduced to 11 (Psm15)

Isaiah took it further to 6 (Isa33:15)

Micah cut down to 3 (Mic6:8)

Isaiah then brought it down one more to 2 (Isa56:1)

Finally, Habakkuk, reduced it to 1 (Hab2:4)

Maybe we better take a few minutes and look at these so again we can understand the significance of the scribe and his response to Jesus.

So see if you can pick out the 11 here in

Ps15:50

Walks with integrity (v.2); Works righteously (v.2); Speaks truth from heart (v.2)

Works righteously (v.2)

Speaks truth from heart (v.2)

Does not slander (v.3); does no evil (v.3); does not reproach against neighbor (v.3)

Hates evil or evil ones (v.4); honors those who fear the Lord (v.4); does not change his own heart (v.4)

Does not put out money, loan money with interest (v.5); and finally does not take a bribe (v.5)

Those who do those things will not, will never be shaken.

Now how about the Isaiah passage let me give that to you

Walk righteously; speak sincerely; despises unjust gain (oppression)

shakes hand so holds no bribe; controls what he hears, controls what he sees

Then Micah

Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly

Isaiah very similare to Micah says

Preserve (do) justice; do rigtheousness

And Habakkauk says

live by faith if you are righteous (my phraseology here)

So what were they to do, what ones were they to apply, in what order, what is the greatest?

Questions and they all did not agree on it.

The Sadducees did not believe in the oral law only the written law; some of the teachers agreed on some but not others, there were many points of view, so the question of Jesus is a good one, an important one, but as we look at this today may we look at the two commands and see what we can learn by reflection on them.

The command to love

The command to love found in the Old Testament in the Shema and the New Testament by Jesus quoting the Old Testament So may we look at under the old covenant and then how we are to love today; and how we can grow in love today.

Under the old covenant (Deu6:4-5; Lev19:18)

and add more

Questions to ask:

Who are they to love?

Why are they to love?

Why are they to love?

How are they to love?

Emotionally, physically, intellectually, with all their being

As compared to someone who loves emotionally while committing intellectual suicide as Mark Copeland says.

Or serving intellectually but with no emotion

Or even servingemothionally and intellectually, but not obediently, meaning go

So, how are we to love today?

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With all our heart (1Cor16:22)

with all our soul, that is body and mind; (Rom12:1-2)

with all our strength (Heb10:36)

And with all our mind (CO3:1; Php4:8)

Then you see it demonstrated (1Jn5:3) and evidenced (Jn14:15)

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With all our heart (1Cor16:22)

Love with all your heart for the lord is the discerner of the heart and He is coming (maranatha) and you cannot fake Him out, it has to be true

with all our strength (Heb10:36)

With all our heart (1Cor16:22)

And with all our mind (CO3:1; Php4:8)

Then you see it demonstrated (1Jn5:3) and evidenced (Jn14:15)

with all our soul, that is body and mind; (Rom12:1-2)

With all our heart (1Cor16:22)

with all our soul, that is body and mind; (Rom12:1-2)

with all our strength (Heb10:36)

And with all our mind (CO3:1; Php4:8)

Then you see it demonstrated (1Jn5:3) and evidenced (Jn14:15)

And with all our mind (CO3:1; Php4:8)

Then you see it demonstrated (1Jn5:3) and evidenced (Jn14:15)

With all our heart (1Cor16:22)

with all our soul, that is body and mind; (Rom12:1-2)

with all our strength (Heb10:36)

And with all our mind (CO3:1; Php4:8)

and having heart, our mind, our body seeking the things above here is another verse you should know by now

With all our heart (1Cor16:22)

with all our soul, that is body and mind; (Rom12:1-2)

with all our strength (Heb10:36)

And with all our mind (CO3:1; Php4:8)

Then you see it demonstrated (1Jn5:3) and evidenced (Jn14:15)

Keep his commandments, they are not burdensome

your love is demonstrated when you keep His commandments

How can we grow in our love for God?

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By letting Gods love for us move in us and through us (1Jn4:9-10; Rom5:8)

By asking God to help us grow (2The3:5)

Through prayer and application (Ps116:1-2)