Explores the profound interaction between Jesus and a teacher of the law, emphasizing the importance of living out God's commandments in our daily lives.
Hello, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s a joy to be standing here before you today, under the banner of our Lord's grace and mercy. We gather together, not as people of the world, but as children of the Most High, knit together by the threads of faith, hope, and love.
Today, we find ourselves at the foot of a great mountain of wisdom, ready to ascend its heights and experience the awe-inspiring vistas of God’s Word. Our guide for this ascent is none other than the Gospel according special Mark, specifically chapter 12, verses 28 to 34.
Allow me to read it for you now:
"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.' 'Well said, teacher,' the man replied. 'You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.' When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.'"
In the passage we read, we find a teacher of the law approaching Jesus. This man was not just any ordinary person. He was a scholar, an expert in the Jewish law, someone who was well-versed in the scriptures. He was a man of learning, of knowledge, of understanding. And yet, he came to Jesus with a question. A question that was not just a casual inquiry, but a test. A test to see if Jesus, this carpenter from Nazareth, truly knew what He was talking about.
He saw wisdom: This teacher of the law had heard Jesus debating with the Sadducees. He had seen how Jesus had silenced them with His wisdom. He had seen how Jesus had answered their tricky questions with ease. And so, he came to Jesus with a question of his own. A question that was designed to test Jesus, to see if He truly was as wise as He seemed.
The question was about the commandments: The Jewish law contained 613 commandments. Some were considered more important than others. Some were considered lighter, others heavier. The teacher of the law wanted to know which commandment Jesus considered the most important.
This was a loaded question: It was a question that had the potential to trap Jesus. If Jesus picked one commandment over the others, He could be accused of undermining the rest of the law. If He said that all the commandments were equally important, He could be accused of being indecisive or vague. It was a question that was designed to test Jesus, to see if He could navigate this tricky terrain.
Jesus was not fazed by this question: He did not hesitate or stumble. He answered with confidence and clarity. He said that the most important commandment was to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second most important commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself.
He was not undermining the rest of the law by answering: He was not saying that the other commandments were unimportant. Rather, He was saying that all the other commandments were based on these two commandments. That love for God and love for others were the foundation of the entire law.
This was a profound answer: An answer that revealed the heart of the law. An answer that showed that the law was not just about rules and regulations, but about love and relationship. An answer that showed that the law was not just about external actions, but about internal attitudes.
The teacher of the law was impressed by Jesus' answer: He acknowledged that Jesus was right. He agreed that love for God and love for others was more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. He understood that the essence of the law was not about religious rituals, but about genuine relationship with God and others.
The teacher of the law passed his test: He had tested Jesus and found Him to be wise. He had tested Jesus and found Him to be knowledgeable. He had tested Jesus and found Him to be understanding. He had tested Jesus and found Him to be a true teacher of the law.
Jesus also had a word for the teacher of the law: He said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' This was a word of affirmation, a word of encouragement, a word of hope. It was a word that showed that the teacher of the law was on the right track. That he was close to understanding the true nature of the kingdom of God. That he was close to entering into a genuine relationship with God.
As we continue our ascent, we find ourselves standing before the towering truth of the Torah, the bedrock of Jewish faith and life ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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