9.5 The Greatest Commandment
The Greatest Commandment: Love for God and Neighbor as the Core of Faith

Read Mark 12:28–34. What profound question did the scribe, who was favorably disposed toward Jesus, ask, and what was Jesus’ twofold answer?

In Mark 12:28–34, a scribe, who distinguishes himself from the hostile attitudes of his peers, asks Jesus a profound question: “Which commandment is the most important?” This question gets to the heart of faith and religion.

Jesus responds clearly and succinctly by quoting the central commandment of the Jewish faith from Deuteronomy 6:4–5: “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.” But Jesus doesn’t stop there; He adds that the second most important commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). This twofold answer summarizes the essence of faith: love for God and love for neighbor, which are inseparable.

The scribe recognizes the truth and depth in Jesus’ answer and publicly affirms it. His recognition shows that he is sincerely seeking the core of faith, unlike most of his colleagues who wanted to trap Jesus. Jesus praises his insight and notes that the scribe is “not far from the kingdom of God”—a hint that he is on the right path but still needs to take the final step: recognizing and following Jesus.

This conversation teaches us that true religiosity is not found in ritualistic actions but in a deep, wholehearted love for God and for our fellow human beings. It challenges us to live our faith through genuine love, which is manifested in fidelity and action. The scribe understood the core of faith, but its ultimate fulfillment is found in following Jesus—a step that challenges us to not only understand but also to live our faith.

How can we learn to love God and our neighbor as ourselves? Why is the cross the key to fulfilling these commandments?

To learn to love God and our neighbor as ourselves, we must undergo a profound transformation of our hearts and minds, made possible by God’s grace and the example of Jesus Christ.

1. Learning to Love God: Love for God begins with recognizing His love for us. The Bible tells us that God loved us first (1 John 4:19). This realization moves us to respond to His love. We learn to love God by spending time in His presence—through prayer, reading Scripture, and reflecting on His works. As we remember who God is and what He has done for us, our love for Him grows. This love is expressed through obedience, trust, and worship.

2. Learning to Love Our Neighbor: Loving our neighbor requires us to shift our focus from ourselves to recognizing the needs and dignity of others. Jesus demonstrated through His life and death what it means to love our neighbor—with compassion, forgiveness, and selfless devotion. We learn to love our neighbor by following Jesus’ example: serving, forgiving, and striving to make peace. It also means treating others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

The Cross as the Key to Fulfilling These Commandments: The cross is central to the Christian faith and is key to fulfilling the commandments of love. At the cross, Jesus performed the greatest act of love—He gave His life to redeem us. Through His sacrifice, He not only forgave our sins but also made a way for us to love God and our neighbor.

1. Recognizing God’s Love: At the cross, we see the depth of God’s love for us. This realization leads us to love Him with all that we are.

2. Receiving Grace: The cross shows us that we cannot love perfectly on our own. But through the grace given to us by the cross, we can receive the strength and ability to live out this love.

3. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: The cross enables us to love our neighbors even if they have hurt us because we have experienced forgiveness through Christ. It teaches us to live in God’s love and extend that love to others, regardless of circumstances.

The cross reminds us that true love requires sacrifice but also has the power to change and renew lives—our own and those of others we encounter. Through the cross, we are empowered to fulfill the two greatest commandments and lead a life that honors God and blesses others.

The teaching of loving God and neighbor as the greatest commandment has a profound connection to our daily life and faith.

1. The Priority of Love in Daily Life: The call to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength presents us with the daily challenge of rearranging our priorities. This means that our decisions, actions, and thoughts should be shaped by this love. In daily life, this may involve finding time for prayer and worship but also seeking and acting according to God’s will in every situation.

2. Practical Neighbor Love: Love for our neighbor is demonstrated in our daily interactions with those around us—whether family, at work, or in the community. It means actively attending to others’ needs, showing compassion, practicing forgiveness, and being willing to make sacrifices. This love is not just a feeling but a conscious choice we must make every day.

3. The Cross as Source and Example: The cross is not only a symbol of faith but the source from which we draw the strength to live out this love. It reminds us that Jesus paid the ultimate price for our redemption and encourages us to live in and share this love. In daily life, this means trusting in God’s strength and grace to act rightly—whether in forgiveness, service, or putting others’ needs before our own interests.

4. Transformation and Renewal: Through the cross, we are empowered to align our lives with the commandments of love. It allows us to shed old patterns and live anew in God’s love. This renewal is evident in our relationships, patience, handling of challenges, and in how we reflect God’s love.

Conclusion: The connection of these teachings with our daily lives shows that the Christian faith is not merely a theory but a living practice. Through love for God and neighbor—enabled and empowered by the cross—we can lead a life that honors God and blesses those around us. This love is the core of our faith and should be the guiding thread in everything we do.

The true fulfillment of our faith lies in loving God and our neighbor.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-9-jerusalem-controversies-9-5-the-greatest-commandment-the-book-of-mark-living-faith/

August 29, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – Mark Chapter 2

¹ And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

² And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

³ And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

⁴ And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

⁶ But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

⁷ Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

⁸ And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

⁹ Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

¹⁰ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

¹¹ I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

¹² And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

¹³ And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

¹⁴ And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

¹⁶ And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

¹⁸ And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

¹⁹ And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

²⁰ But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

²¹ No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

²² And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

²³ And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

²⁴ And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

²⁵ And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?

²⁶ How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

²⁷ And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

²⁸ Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

King James Version. Public Domain

Commentary

Introduction

The second chapter of the Gospel of Mark presents a striking portrayal of the growing tensions between Jesus and the religious authorities of His time. It begins with the well-known story of the healing of a paralytic, which not only demonstrates Jesus’ miraculous power but also His authority to forgive sins. The chapter continues with the calling of the tax collector Levi and a feast with tax collectors and sinners, leading to further confrontations with the Pharisees. Finally, the chapter addresses two more controversial issues: fasting and the observance of the Sabbath. These sections highlight Jesus’ radical message, challenging traditional religious practices and introducing a new perspective on the law and faith.

Commentary

The healing of the paralytic is a central moment in the Gospel, emphasizing Jesus’ power not only as a miracle worker but also as one who possesses the authority to forgive sins. This act provokes the scribes, who accuse Jesus of blasphemy, since, according to Jewish understanding, only God can forgive sins. Jesus uses this opportunity to underline the connection between physical healing and spiritual forgiveness, thereby affirming His divine authority.

The calling of Levi and the subsequent meal with tax collectors and sinners exemplify Jesus’ missionary approach. He deliberately turns to the marginalized and despised, provoking further criticism from religious leaders. Jesus’ response that “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” reveals His priorities: He has come to call sinners, not the righteous. This underscores His role as a savior reaching out to those in greatest need.

In the matter of fasting and the Sabbath, Jesus reveals a profound insight into the nature of religious rituals. He questions the rigid adherence to laws and demonstrates that love and human well-being take precedence over religious prescriptions. Particularly significant is His statement that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” which emphasizes flexibility and humanity in the interpretation of the law.

Summary

Mark Chapter 2 depicts Jesus as a powerful and provocative figure who challenges existing religious norms. Through the healing of the paralytic, He demonstrates His divine authority to forgive sins. His interactions with Levi and other sinners reveal His willingness to include the marginalized in the community. Finally, the discussions on fasting and the Sabbath offer insights into Jesus’ understanding of the law, which always aims at the well-being of people. This chapter illustrates how Jesus questions traditional religious notions and introduces a new perspective based on grace and compassion.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/29-08-2024-mark-chapter-2-believe-his-prophets/