And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:29-30 KJV
We serve the living God. Moreover, the Lord our God is Lord of the living. Those who believe in him and his Son, Jesus Christ, do not perish eternally but have everlasting life through the resurrection promised to the faithful of God. Our scripture answers the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” Also, Jesus’ words highlight the fact that the Lord our God is one Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
When asked about eternal life in a complex question about who is married to who in heaven, Jesus answered of the resurrection in Mark 12:25, “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. KJV” Impressed with the Lord’s answer, a scribe then asks Jesus to name the most important commandment.
The Two Greatest Commandments
Jesus answered the man in Mark 12:29-30. His answer is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 which says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. KJV” The Lord continues to teach, giving the second greatest commandment as “love your neighbor as yourself.”
This event is recorded in Matthew’s gospel account as well. In Matthew’s record, Jesus follows the statement of the two greatest commandments with these words from Matthew 22:40 which reads, ‘The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. WEB” The simple elegance of this teaching makes clear the ease with which we can know we are following the will of God.
Hear and Obey the Law
It is interesting to note that Jesus begins his answer concerning the “most important” commandment with the quote, “Hear, O Israel.” We must first hear and understand the law of God before we begin to obey it. As we read in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. WEB” But hearing is not enough. We must be doers of the law. As we read in Romans 2:13, “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. NIV”
In the time of Moses, the law was written down and shared from person to person. But after the coming of Christ, the law was written in the hearts of men. This fulfilled prophecy from Jeremiah 31:33 which says, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. KJV” Paul makes clear that the same is true for Gentiles in Romans 2:14-15.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for placing your law in my heart. By you, I know right from wrong. Forgive me Father for all my sins as I turn from them in obedience to you. Guide me to do your will. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Only Begotten Son
