Sermon Text: Mark 12:28-34
Outline
BIG IDEA: True followers of Jesus love God supremely and love others genuinely.
Verses Referenced (sermon order):
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 John 4:19
Context
Mark 11-16 covers Jesus’ final week (Passion Week). We’re still in Tuesday of that week. So far on Tuesday Jesus’ authority was challenged by the Sanhedrin. Jesus responded with the parable of the tenants condemning Israel’s religious leaders. Next, Jesus answered a question about taxes. Last week, Jesus answered the Sadducees’ question concerning the resurrection.
Summary
This is only a summary. Watch the sermon video (linked above) for more.
After hearing Jesus’ remarkable responses to the question posed to him about the source of his authority (Mark 11:27-33), taxes (Mark 12:13-17) and the resurrection (Mark 12:18-27), one of the scribes was smart enough to ask Jesus about which commandment is the most important.
Rabbis had identified 613 commands in the first five books of the Bible, and it was a regular point of discussion among the Pharisees about which commandments were most important. And so, this scribe asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” (v. 28).
Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18. Jesus does add the phrase “and with all your mind.” Here is Jesus reply according to Mark 12:29-31.
“The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Jesus’ answer is basically this – love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. In other words, we don’t just do a few religious duties to make God happy. Rather, we are changed by the gospel of Jesus and we respond in a life of worship and obedience to God (1 John 4:19). We are not saved by our good works but we are saved for good works (Eph 2:8-10). We are to worship God with our lives and not just our lips. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).
That is what it looks like to love God with everything you have. You no longer live for yourself but for God’s glory. You have a supernatural love and care for others–not just your family and your church family but ultimately everyone you encounter. You care about the eternal destiny of all. Loving God and loving others is the call of every Christ follower. Without love, we are just religious pretenders (1 Cor 13:1-3).