Greatest Commandment is Love

Intro

There was a young man who grew up in the home of an English pastor, went on to study theology and became a Greek and logic professor before becoming an ordained priest in the Church of England. He became part of the “Holy Club” meeting with others to pray and study the Bible. He spent an hour every day in prayer, took communion each week and worked on conquering his sins. He fasted twice a week, visited prisons and help the poor and sick. He even became a missionary but failed miserably saying “I went to convert others, but who will convert me?”

Reading the same text in Mark 12 we will study this morning, he found himself in verse 34 where Jesus says to a Jewish religious leader “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” That night, John Wesley was finally saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone. It wasn’t his knowledge of the Bible, his fasting and prayers, or his kind deeds for others that could save him. It was trusting in what Jesus already did for him. It is by God’s grace alone that you are saved, it is a gift from God, so that no one can boast.

Today we see the third challenging question from the Sanhedrin - a powerful group of Jewish elite who wanted to discredit and destroy Jesus. This time a single man comes with a question, but unlike the others, he had an open heart and truly was looking for the answer.

Series

As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ responses always helped his listeners better understand God’s heart and his statements are typically clear commands for us to follow.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. Now in the second half the focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

Last week the Sadducees, came with a second tricky question about marriage in heaven and the resurrection. Today it’s a scribe asking the ultimate question about obeying God’s laws. And then Jesus asks them a question about the Messiah’s real identity.

We are continuing in Mark chapter 12 today. Our parallel passages are in Matthew 22 and Luke 20.

PRAY

READ Mark 12:28-34

Scribe’s Question

Instead of a group coming to question Jesus, a single Scribe came up to Jesus with a question after seeing that he answered all of the other questions well.

A scribe is a Pharisee who studied the law and interpreted the law. While we often think only of the Ten Commandments, they identified 613 unique commandments in the five books of Moses which they called “The Law.” There are 365 negative or “Don’t do this” laws and 248 positive “Do this” commands.

A common debate was which of the laws were heavier or lighter? In other words, which ones are more important.

So the scribe, impressed with Jesus’ previous answers, asks “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Jesus’ Response

READ vv. 29-31

Jesus was quoting the Deut 6:4-5 know as the Shema (Hebrew for “to hear). This passage was recited morning and evening and is still a reminder for Jewish people today.

God is one. Love him completely - body, spirit and mind.

He added a second command from Lev. 19:18 “Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said “There is no greater commandment than these. Jesus combined “Loving God and Loving others into one command.

There are many different ways we use the word love - like I love my Mom, I love pumpkin lattes, and I love the Bills. It’s the same word, but each context is different. The Greek word used here is “agape” and that is familiar to some of you. It means selfless care, concern, or esteem for another person. It is the word for love when God loves us unconditionally and without any expectations.

We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In other words - love him completely with your whole being. The fact that it includes our mind and strength means love for God should affect the way we think and act - not just towards God, but towards others.

Loving God completely is expressed in our lives by loving others the same way He loves us - unconditionally.

The commands we are most familiar with are the Ten Commandments. The first four are about loving God - our vertical relationship with Him. The last six are about loving others - our horizontal relationships with others.

The Jewish people thought of their neighbors as others like them - Jews who thought and believed like they did. But Jesus clarified that when He told the story of the Good Samaritan who cared for a neighbor who was not like him at all. Jesus called us to love even our enemies. Because in doing that, they can see our love for God.

Loving your neighbor as yourself, means that you care for others as well as you care for yourself. Nowhere in the Bible will you find a command to “love yourself.” If anyone tells you that you need to love yourself first, don’t listen! If you think you hate yourself or think you are not worth anything, you should focus on God’s love for you and the value you places on your life and your soul - the life of His own Son, Jesus.

Obedience to God comes from a heart that has experienced God’s amazing love and grace and a life that has been radically transformed by God. The apostle Paul said the love of Christ controls or compels me in 2 Cor. 5:14. Knowing God’s love completely causes us to love others the same way.

Scribe’s Response

in verse 32 we hear the Scribe’s response. “You are right Teacher. You have answered truly or well. He repeats Jesus’ answer to love god and love your neighbor and then adds, “this is much more than burnt offerings and sacrifices.” In other words, loving God and loving others is more important than following the temple commands. This was a radical idea for a Jewish religious leader. Especially part of the Sanhedrin.

Jesus saw that this man really heard and understood what he said. This was totally different from all of the other questions and tests. This man was really listening to Jesus. And Jesus responded in verse 34 “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Warren Wiersbe said, “If we love God, we will experience His love within and will express that love to others. We do not live by rules but by relationships, a loving relationship to God that enables us to have a loving relationship with others.”

Jesus was calling this man to follow Him. To repent of his sin and believe that He was the Messiah. Loving God includes loving the One sent to bring salvation.

Jesus makes this clear in his question for the religious leaders that we see next.

READ Mark 12:35-37

Jesus’ Question About the Messiah

After all their questions, Jesus now asks the Sanhedrin a question.

How can the Scribes say the Christ (Messiah) is the son of David?

The Jews expected a Messiah, a king from David’s descendents, who would restore their earthly kingdom.

But Jesus quotes Psalm 110 saying that David was speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In other words, this wasn’t just David’s opinion, this was God speaking.

As David calls himself Lord, why would he call the Messiah, His Lord?

A father would not refer to to his son as lord, or any other future generation. The Jewish culture honored and revered their ancestors. They understood this clearly.

So who is the Messiah, if David called him “My Lord?” The Messiah is not just the son of David, he must be the Son of God to be superior to his father, David!

Jesus was proclaimed as Son of David and Messiah by the crowds when he rode into Jerusalem on the previous Sunday. But he was not a warrior king like David. He was a servant King and the Son of God.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus proclaimed that entering God’s kingdom required repentance and acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.

The passage ends with v. 37. And the large crowd heard him gladly. They believed and accepted his teaching.

Take Aways

Did you grow up going to church? Did you have parents who served God faithfully? Have you read the Bible and learned lots of things about God? Have you heard the gospel preached clearly? You may be able to answer “Yes” to one or maybe all of these but you may still only be “close to the Kingdom of God.” It would be terrible to stand before Jesus on the judgment day and hear him say, “depart from me, I never knew you.”

Jesus’ invitation to God’s kingdom is a free gift for you to accept, but you need to take that final step. Recognize that you a sinner, unable to save yourself. Repent of your sins asking God to forgive you through the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. And accept Him as Messiah and Lord of your life. If you are ready to take that step today or if you have more questions please come talk to me after the service or if you’re watching online - contact me through the church office.

If you have already trusted Jesus as your Savior, do you really love him? Do you love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and all your strength? Does your love for God consume you or does your love for this world consume you? As Brad Bigney says in Gospel Treason, “What things are devastating for you?” That’s what you really love! If you love God completely and understand that undeserved love it will show up in your generous unconditional love for others. Who needs to see God’s love through you?

Will you ask God to show you who you should love this week? Will you ask God who you should bring to Back to Church next Sunday?

The greatest commandment is this... Love God and Love Others.

Benediction

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God the Father. I pray this in name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Amen.