The First Commandment (Mark 12-28:34)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
10 May 2020
Jesus was questioned by a scribe asking what is the first (greatest) commandment?
Note Jesus' response.
Jesus upheld priority in the commandments. If there is a first commandment there must be other commandments less important. The most important commandment is the moral commandment of God.
Jesus speaks authoritatively on the matter. Israel must hear. The Lord spoke earlier to Moses and gave God's moral law. He now speaks to Israel about the same moral law. "Hear, O Israel." Not just Israel. The whole world needs to hear the moral law of God.
Jesus identifies with Israel. He is not a stranger bringing a new idea. God revealed himself to Israel. He is now giving further revelation through Jesus.
Jesus teaches that God is a personal God. He is "our God" that is, the God of Israel. Salvation is of the Jews. Jesus is our personal Saviour.
Jesus reasserts that Lord God is one. There is not a multiplicity of gods. Israel failed when it embraced other gods. The biggest threat to the church today is the unbiblical idea of worshipping many gods. There is but one God. He is our Creator.
Note now Jesus' explanation of the first commandment. His explanation summarised the Ten Commandments into two parts.
First, we are to love God with all our being.
Jesus is our example of this love. In time, work, mind and rest he gave his all to God.
Jesus gave his whole time in loving God. From youth right up to manhood Jesus’ life was devoted to God.
Jesus dedicated his work to God. Not only his work as a carpenter but supremely his work as the Saviour. This work of devotion led him to die on the cross.
Jesus loved God with his mind. As a 12 year old boy he could question and debate with scholars. He must have spent hours familiarising himself with the Bible. His mind was given over to God.
Jesus also rested. He would retire to a mountain or garden to get rest. We love God by taking rest. This is often forgotten. Society would be better for the taking of the Sabbath.
Next, we are to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Who is our neighbour? In Luke 10 Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan. This parable teaches that our neighbour includes strangers in need. Everyone is our neighbour.
But how can we Iove God and our neighbour?
We try and do so but we fall short for our efforts are mingled with failure. Jesus can enable us to fulfil the first commandment. He lives in the hearts of his people. We cannot fulfil the first commandment in our own strength but with Christ in our hearts we can love God and our neighbour as ourselves.
To love our neighbour we must be practical and take action. People remember acts of kindness. See to it that we show love in practical ways. People will be drawn to our Lord as we love our neighbour.
The scribe who questioned Jesus understood what Jesus was saying. He was not far from God's kingdom.
In God’s kingdom the royal law is love. Are you far from the royal law of love? If Christ does not live in your heart take that one step today. Believe in God through Jesus Christ and enter God's kingdom.
May Jesus be your sovereign ruler and benevolently rule your life. Then you can love God with all your being and your neighbour as yourself.