Tag: Hear O Israel
The greatest commandment!
Scripture reading for February 25th: Mark 12
Key scriptures for over-comers: Mark 12:28-31 “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Religious people like to discuss theology and God’s word. It was no different in Jesus’ day. The teachers of this time had identified the ten Mosaic commandments and over 600 other commandment from the Scriptures. Each teacher had their own interpretations of the various laws and scriptures. One of these law teachers came to Jesus with an honest question: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus did not hesitate for a moment, but identified two that comprised the greatest commandment: Love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus taught that these two summed up all the laws of God. In loving God, we eliminate idolatry and giving God second place. We won’t profane His name or His day–the Sabbath. In loving our neighbor, we won’t murder, commit adultery, lie, steal or covet and we will honor our father and mother. This complete love fulfills the law.
Observations for over-comers: Love involves relationship–first with God and also with our neighbor and ourselves! Love never fails! “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness of His own name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)
Hear, O Israel!
Scripture Reading for February 23rd: Deuteronomy 5-7
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
This passage from our reading today is known by faithful Jews as the “Shema” and was to be quoted twice daily. This Hebrew word simply means “listen”. Jesus used this passage to define the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37-38) This ancient word from a sermon of Moses around 1500 years before Christ was foundational in the devotional life of Israel and has meaning for us today.
First, hearing is important! God wants us to have ears to hear His voice! Remember that the nation of Israel did not want to hear God’s voice speaking His commandments. They had asked Moses to hear for them so they would not die. (Exodus 20:19) Moses was repeating what God had told him. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17) God sends His people out to speak His Word to bring faith and obedience and the resulting blessing to those who will listen.
Second, the Lord is One! He is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is holy and complete in Himself. His love is expressed in his Word and commandments. When we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we are actively responding to His Love. If we love Him, we will obey His commands. (John 15:9-11) His joy will be in us and our life will be full!
The last point to look at in this devotion is the need to impress these commands of the Lord on our children. If these commands are on our hearts, we will pass them on. The most effective way to pass them on is to live them out and speak about them in the normal flow of daily life. This will impact the next generation! Are you listening?
The most important commandment!
Scripture reading for March 5th: Mark 12:18-37, Psalms 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26
Men are always trying to reduce the requirement to get into heaven to a simple formula. They seem to want to find the line that God requires and then get as close to it as possible and still maintain their freedom to do as they please. Instead we should be seeking complete obedience with joy and thankful hearts!
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 28-31)
Jesus did not give this teacher one of the ten commandments that he may have been expecting. Instead, Jesus gave this man the greatest commandment. It is the law of love that God Himself set in place and which, if kept, can fulfill all the requirements of the ten commandments. Loving God involves keeping the commandments. “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” (John 14:21) True love of God involves obedience to His commands. If we keep His commands, we will love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the first five of the ten commandments. We will also love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the second half of the ten commandments.
Jesus commended the teacher when he agreed with His instruction. He told him that he was not far from the kingdom. (Mark 12:34) The last step needed would be to place faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness for breaking God’s law. Confessing our sins to God and asking Him for mercy would bring the needed cleansing. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives us power to love God and our neighbor as God does. Have you repented of breaking God’s laws? Do you know you are in His kingdom (not just close)? Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit?