Come Follow the Teacher that Shows Us "The Way"

Mark 12: 28-34

The Heart of Faith: Jesus's Greatest Commandment

In a world of complexity, Jesus offers beautiful simplicity. In Mark 12:28-34, a religious expert asks Jesus which commandment matters most. His answer cuts through religious debate to reveal what truly matters in our relationship with God and each other.

The Context

Jesus was in Jerusalem during his final week, facing hostile questions from religious leaders trying to trap him. Amid this tension, a scribe - an expert in religious law - approached with what seems like sincere curiosity: "Which commandment is the most important of all?"

 Jesus's Response

Jesus answered simply:

 "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 quoted from Jewish scripture (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18), but what made his answer powerful was how he prioritized these commands above all others and joined them together.

 A Moment of Connection

Unlike previous challengers, this scribe agreed wholeheartedly:

 "You are right, Teacher... And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

This religious expert recognized that love matters more than religious rituals. Jesus, seeing the man's understanding, told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Why This Matters Today

This teaching is revolutionary because it:

• Simplifies faith - Instead of hundreds of rules focus on loving God and others.

• Unifies our relationships - You cannot truly love God while mistreating people.

• Encompasses our whole life - "All your heart, soul, mind, strength" means this affects everything.

  
  

Living It Out

What might this look like in your daily life?

Loving God completely means making Him your priority and the center of your decisions.

It's a relationship, not religion.

Loving your neighbor as yourself means extending to others the same care you naturally give yourself. And your "neighbor" is anyone who crosses your path with a need.

At its core, faith isn't about perfect religious performance—it's about love expressed in action. The scribe recognized this truth intellectually; Jesus indicated he was just one step away from truly experiencing God's kingdom.

The same might be true for you. Moving from understanding to practice is where transformation happens.

Your Next Steps

1. Start your day with intention: Ask, "How can I express my love for God today? Who needs God's love through me?"

2. Choose one difficult relationship to approach with new compassion this week.

3. Simplify your faith by asking, "Is what I'm doing helping me love God and others better?"

4. Share this insight with someone else who might need clarity.

Jesus's greatest commandment is both wonderfully simple and endlessly challenging.

Each step toward loving better brings you closer to experiencing God's kingdom in your everyday life.

What one small act of love might you do today?

Blessings,

Donna Chandler