The Great Commandment

 

 

Mark 12: 28-34

 

The Great Commandment

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

The scribes heard the Sadducees debating with Jesus over the woman that marries all seven brothers and who would she be married to in heaven.  The scribes ask his own question; “Which commandment is the most important of all?”  

As a follower of Christ, each day I need to be reminded of number one and number two, for if my focus is not on obeying my life will be of little or no value to the Kingdom of Heaven.  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.’   The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  

But How, that is the question each of us wrestles with, how can I do it and the answer is you can’t, but God desires to do it all for us, we have to be willing to allow Him to do so.  God does not force His will on His children, but when I want Him more than the desires of the world, then I find He gives me the ability to love Him and my neighbor.

 From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice