Question of the Greatest Commandment, Part 1

Question of the Greatest Commandment, Part 1

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Question of the Greatest Commandment, Part 1
Keywords: “commandment” “God” “love”
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Passage: Mark 12:28-34*

28. And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"

29. Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

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."

32. And the scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher, You have truly stated that HE IS ONE; AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;

33. 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 HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34. And when Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

Question

Why do you think the foremost commandment according to Jesus is the foremost commandment?

Practical help

It’s as if Jesus is being asked, “What does God want from us the most?” I’m frankly amazed he answered the question so respectfully. It would have made sense to me if he had just said, “Why are you quibbling? You’ve read the book, do everything God tells you to do.”

Perhaps there is a clue here on how to obey God about anything. What difference would it make, after all, to tell people to do what’s right and stop doing what’s wrong, if they would not be able to carry out your commands anyway?

Instead, Jesus says start with loving God. What does this require? May I suggest it starts with our attitudes toward God? Many of us are frankly mad at God or at least indifferent to him. Why is it, that with this sort of attitude we expect him to answer any of our prayers? But Jesus says love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. If you did, how might this change your relationship to pornography?

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."