Marcos 12

Marcos 12

Hendriksen: the mezuzah was a rectangular piece of inscribed parchment enclosed in a metal or wooden case, and attached to the upper section of a Jewish dwelling’s right hand door post. The inscribed material consists of the Shema in its longer form. It is written in twenty-two lines, in accordance with definite rules. You cannot adequately obey the Commands of God without first understanding and embracing the Person of God. -- Paul Apple Power Of Simplicity Then one of the scribes came, and . . . asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” —Mark 12:28 Today's Scripture & Insight: Mark 12:28-34 Few people take time to study the US Internal Revenue Service income tax regulations—and for good reason. According to Forbes magazine, in 2013 tax codes surpassed the four million-word mark. In fact, the tax laws have become so complex that even the experts have a hard time processing all the regulations. It’s burdensome in its complexity. The religious leaders in ancient Israel did the same thing in their relationship with God. They made it too complex with laws. The growing burden of religious regulations had increased to the point where even an expert in Moses’ law struggled to understand its core. When one such leader asked Jesus what mattered most in the Commandments, Jesus responded, “‘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. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine; for thee all the follies of sin I resign; my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. I love thee because thou hast first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. I'll love thee in life, I will love thee in death, and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath, and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow: If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. In mansions of glory and endless delight, I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright; I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow: If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. —Featherstone God’s love in our heart gives us a heart for Him and others. No Greater Love Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. — John 15:13 Today's Scripture: Mark 12:28-34 You can’t show a greater love for people than James Harrison demonstrated. And he did it for people he didn’t even know. Harrison, a member of the Ouachita Baptist University choir, was returning home from Europe with his fellow singers. As their plane was landing in Little Rock, Arkansas, it was hit by heavy rains and high winds. The jet skidded off the runway and hit a bank of lights, ripping open the fuselage. As chaos reigned and flames broke out in the mangled plane, Harrison began to help others. Over and over, he pulled passengers to safety and ran back to the plane for more. On his last trip into the burning wreckage, he was overcome with smoke. He didn’t make it out alive. At his funeral, the choir director quoted John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus was really speaking of His own death on our behalf, and the choir leader pointed out the value of this ultimate sacrifice. The more Christ's love within us grows, The more His graciousness outflows; And when we face a fiery test, His love we then will manifest. —Hess In a world that "couldn't care less," Christians should care more. Mark 12:29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; Hear: Mk 12:32,33 Dt 6:4-5 Dt 10:12 Dt 30:6 Pr 23:26 Mt 10:37 Lu 10:27 1Ti 1:5 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Deuteronomy 6:4+ “Hear, O Israel! The LORD (YAHWEH) is our God (ELOHIM), the LORD (YAHWEH) is one! MATTHEW SURPRISINGLY (SINCE IT IS MORE TOWARD A JEWISH AUDIENCE) LEAVES OUT JESUS QUOTE OF THE "SHEMA" THE SHEMA Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD - The "Shema" (from first word "Hear") was recited by every devout Jew morning and evening and affirms the truth of monotheism, one God. Notice that once again Jesus resorts to the written Word of God to answer the scribe's question, giving His disciples an excellent pattern to emulate. Geddert - Jesus responds by accepting the scribe’s assumption that there is a center to the law. But he also modifies it by clarifying that two commandments are located at the center. The commandments to love God (Deut. 6:4–5) and neighbor (Lev. 19:18) stand together at the heart of the Torah. The Hebrew Shema quoted here, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God …, was recited regularly in the synagogue. Thus Jesus says, “The center of the law is not some hidden key to be discovered by intricate exegetical maneuvers. The center of the law is the love command(s) repeated regularly in worship.”. (Mark Believers Church Bible Commentary)