Kingdom Values
Theme: To show how the values of the kingdom are different that the values of this world.
Text: Mark 12:28 - 34
Introduction
We have been talking about the Kingdom of God. So this is why this passage is important. Jesus tells the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of god”.
It is a pretty interesting scene that was happening in this chapter. Jesus was sitting being surrounded by a crowd of people. There were some who were just curious to hear what He had to say. There were others like the religious leaders (described as the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes) who were there to challenge Him. It was a common scene.
So here He was. Answering one question after another astounding the leaders. In this chapter alone He pegs the leaders as wicked tenants who were missing there very purpose of Jesus coming. They were wanting to “kill the heir”. The son of the vineyard owner. When Jesus spoke this parable the Bible says,
Mark 12:12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.
Then another one would step up trying to stump Him. This time they asked questions about taxes. Should they even pay taxes at all. Jesus asks for a coin and asks, “Whose image and inscription is this?”. So they answer “Caesar’s”. Then remarkably He says “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” The Bible says next, “And they marveled at Him”.
Next steps up the Sadducees. The did not believe in the resurrection. So they challenge Jesus on the law that required a woman with no heirs, if her husband dies she must marry the brother who is not married. Well if this happened a few times who would be the wife’s husband in the resurrection. Believing they have stumped him, Jesus answers,
Mark 12:25-27 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (26) But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? [57] (27) He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."
Finally we get to our opening passage. This time a scribe came to him. They were the ones who were suppose to have a better understanding of scripture.
Mark 12:28-34 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"
(29) Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. (31) And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (32) So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. (33) And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (34) Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.
First, he perceived something about the answers of Jesus. Jesus had “answered them well”.
I believe this was an inquisitive question. He was not an antagonists. He had a legitimate question.
So he asks, which is the greatest commandment. We know there were 10 listed in Exodus 20 plus some say there are over 600 listed in the OT. Then you have the 1000’s that had been passed down from the religious interpreters of the scriptures
James reminds us that if we break one law it is like breaking them all. (James 2:10). Jesus reminds them that they had there are some laws that are weightier than others.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Matthew 23:23).
So which is the greatest?
Jesus sums them up by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4 about our relationship with God. Then combining all the other commandments on how to treat your neighbor.
One God
"The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
a. He is the Lord, Jehovah, Yaweh. There is no other. Monotheism (one God) is the true belief. Polytheism (many gods) is a false belief.
b. He is our God. This is a personal relationship between a worshipper and his God. It is a daily experience. We are related to Him; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Therefore, we should love, adore, and worship Him.
c. He is one Lord. He is the focus and concentration of our life, attention, worship, love, and praise. He is the only Subject of our devotion. There is no reason, no excuse for distraction by any other subject. He is the One Lord, the only Subject.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Mark.
Love God
This is a personal relationship, not a distant relationship. God is not impersonal, far out in space someplace, distant and removed. God is personal, ever so close, and we are to be personally involved with God on a face to face basis. The command is to "love the Lord thy God." Loving God is alive and active, not dead and inactive. We are, therefore, to maintain a personal relationship with God that is alive and active.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Mark.
How to Love God - With All Our Being
Heart – emotion “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”, “where your treasure is there will your heart be” Matthew 6:21
Soul – your essence, who you are, what separates you from the animal kingdom, Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Psalm 103:1 (NIV)
Strength – Action “Faith without works is dead” And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6
Mind – Intellect “Think on these things” Php_4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
These values are not worldly values but kingdom values. It is what we are challenged with daily. Our daily walk is concerned about 1) loving (talking, relating, respecting) God and 2) loving our neighbors.
Loving God
Includes prayer
Includes commitment
Addition of Unwanted Information
It is not just about loving God. This is primary but you cannot separate your love for others.
Joh 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Loving Others
This is the crux of our relationship with God. To love God and to love others. It is interesting how this forms a cross.
These are what I call the values of the kingdom. How we treat God and how we treat others?
This is not limited to those who are like us but includes everyone. Not just people that we like or in our family but anyone we come in contact with.
This is the biggest challenge. Jesus gives us some deep values to us.
Telling us things like “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
This admonition from Jesus is familiar to people the world over, and it is generally known as “The Golden Rule.” Jesus’ prescription for living with others is foundational to maintaining good relationships, and the basic morality of the statement is appealing to a wide variety of people. What sets this statement apart from similar statements from other teachers throughout history is the positive framing of Jesus’ command and the call to be proactive in our goodness toward other people.
The difference in this and what is the common law of humanity is the action word.
Telling us to “forgive and God has forgiven us”
Forgiveness is a release of debt from others. When someone hurts us or makes us made. We don’t hold a grudge but we release the debt. Why? Because we have been released from a greater debt.
Telling us to “put your self last while others go first”
This is not being selfish.
Telling us that is one thing to love those who love us but true love is loving those who are our enemy.
Telling us to “turn the other cheek”
“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:39)
Throughout His ministry, Jesus often directed people to do things that were nonintuitive. The commandment to “turn the other cheek” is one example. Because of our human nature, revenge and anger seem the most natural reactions when someone wrongs us. But Jesus asks us to deny our natural tendencies in order to display a godly attitude. Rather than repay evil with more evil, we are to react with humility and repay evil with blessing (cf. 1 Peter 3:9).
Telling us to “give to receive”
These are what I call “kingdom Values” It was is what separates us from the world.
Other Values
Values of the Kingdom of God: Humility (Matthew 18:4 ), generosity (Proverbs 11:24), sacrifice (Romans 12.1), selflessness (Philippians 1:17), loving those who are hard to love (Romans 12:10)
It is no wonder that Jesus tells us to be able to be part of the Kingdom of God we must be “born again”. It is no wonder that we are told that when we are saved, we are now a “new creature” in Christ Jesus. There is something different. Something out this world.
Love Yourself
We are never told in scripture to not have self-love. In other words, we need to have a healthy love for ourself. This means we are not down on ourselves. We don’t carry guilt or regret. We know our identity in Christ and that we are His creation. Yes, we have made mistakes but we have been forgiven by God.
We know the difference by not letting it being about us.
and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
In other words, this is better than burnt offerings and sacrifices. They are good but they are superficial compared to carrying our the work of God toward others.
For us this would be translated “and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than giving in tithes, church attendance and giving up for the kingdom”
Conclusion
Do people recognize you are a disciple of Christ? It should evident by your love for others. Yes we should have an active prayer life. Yes we should allow the gifts of the Spirit to operate in us and in our church. But people recognize us by our love for God and love for others.
New Creature
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
