Mark wrote how, “one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, you have said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty-three of his book, Mark shared how the scribe tells Jesus how “loving God” and “loving people” are, “more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” where we read:
And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
The verse reads, “And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, ...” Mark began with the words, “and to love him” which means “and to dearly and unconditionally love God” “with all the heart” or “with the complete and total soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”, “and with all the understanding” which means “and with the complete and total mental putting together, knowledge and intellect”, “and with all the soul” or “and with the complete and total seat of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions”, “and with all the strength” which means “and with the complete and total ability, might and power”. Mark shared how the scribe repeated that which Jesus referred to in scripture as he repeated the idea of “loving God” with all one's “heart, understanding, soul and strength”.
The verse continues, “... and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark added the words, “and to love” which means “and to dearly and unconditionally love” “his neighbor” or “a person's fellow man irrespective of nation or religion with whom we live or whom we chance to meet” “as himself” which means “in the same manner and likeness as the person loves their own self”, “is more than all” or “is greater, superior and more excellent than each, every, the whole and everyone of” “the whole burnt offerings” which means “the entire, complete and wholly consumed sacrifices” “and sacrifices” or “victims employed for offerings”. Mark shared how the “scribe” agreed with Jesus that “loving one's neighbor” in the same manner as a person love themselves is “superior and greater” than “all” the “burnt offerings” and “sacrifices” that may be offered to God.
When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we understand the importance of these “two commandments” of God. “Loving God” and “Loving People” encompass all the other commandments, and those who follow these two commands shall find themselves in compliance with the rest of God's law. God loves people, and His desire is that people love Him and others in the same way He loves them. God gave His Son Jesus to the world to die for their sins so they may live with Him forever, (See John 3:16), and those who believe and trust in Jesus are extended the “grace” or “unmerited favor” of God that shall make them “righteous” before Him. Those who are wise will yield their lives to Jesus and allow Him to show them how to “Love God” and “Love others” in the same way that He loves all of mankind.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the scribe, “you are not far from the kingdom of God” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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