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Fulfilling the Great Commandment

Loving God. Fulfilling the Great Commandment. Mark 12:28-30. One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”

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Fulfilling the Great Commandment

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  1. Loving God Fulfilling the Great Commandment

  2. Mark 12:28-30 • One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” • Jesus answered, “The foremost 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.’”

  3. Introduction • Holy Scripture demands that we love God with our entire being (Matt. 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28). • This involves the whole of man’s four powers: his heart, mind, soul, and strength. While there is some overlap, each word has a distinct meaning.

  4. Heart • Are we teaching our children to love the Lord with all their heart? The Greek word translated “heart” conveys several meanings. • Literally, it refers to the blood pump of the body, and is thus regarded as the seat of physical life. • Figuratively speaking, it also represents the center of one’s spiritual life.

  5. Heart • Faith devoid of emotion is not true faith. Our Lord will not accept hearts that are dull (Matt. 13:13-15) and distant (Matt. 15:7-9). • Empty, ritualistic service will not suffice (Matt. 6:7).

  6. Heart • While all things must be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40, 33), true worship is a heart-felt experience (Ps. 42:1-2; 84:2; 143:6; John 4:23-24). • Old Testament prophecy repeatedly foreshadowed the joy of the Messianic age (Isa. 42:10-11; 54:1; 61:7, 10; Jer. 31:12; Zeph. 3:14-15; Zech. 2:10-11; 9:9).

  7. Mind • Are we teaching our children to love the Lord with all their mind? • The Greek word translated “mind” refers to one’s intellect, disposition, or thought. • It includes the faculty of reasoning and reflection, comprehension and understanding.

  8. Mind • Faith devoid of a solid intellectual foundation is not true faith. • A lack of knowledge has always been an occasion of stumbling for the people of God (Isaiah 1:1-3; 5:13-14; Hosea 4:6). • Ignorance is no excuse (Acts 17:30-31; Eph. 4:17-19; 1 Pet. 1:14-16).

  9. Mind • Christ’s Covenant is a religion of the mind (John 6:44-45; Heb. 8:10; 10:15-17). • Peter sought to stimulate his readers to wholesome thinking (1 Pet. 1:13; 2 Pet. 3:1-2). • John said, “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true” (1 John 5:20).

  10. Soul • Are we teaching our children to love the Lord with all their soul? • The Greek word translated “soul” refers to one’s breath, life, or soul. • Depending upon the context, different meanings are conveyed.

  11. Soul • Sometimes, it simply refers to a person, with no distinction made between the inner and outer man. • However, in recognition that man –composed of flesh and spirit, body and soul – enjoys a dual nature, the word also refers to the inner spiritual man. • Here the meaning appears general.

  12. Soul • Faith that does not encompass all of life is not true faith. • Loving God and obeying his voice is the essence of life itself (Deut. 30:19-20; 32:44-47; Eccl. 12:13-14).

  13. Soul • Through obedience to the gospel, we die to the old man of sin and self, and are raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:17). • After conversion, our life should be one of selfless service (Gal. 2:20), and reoriented focus (Col. 3:1-4).

  14. Strength • Are we teaching our children to love the Lord with all their strength? • The Greek word translated “strength” refers to one’s power or might. How are we using our God-given talents and abilities?

  15. Strength • Faith devoid of energy is not true faith. • As king Josiah served God with all his might (2 Kings 23:24-25; 2 Chron. 34:29-33), we must do the same (Eccl. 9:10; Rom. 12:9-13; Col. 3:22-25). • Non-committal, wavering, half-heartedness is wholly unacceptable (Josh. 24:14-28; 1 Kings 18:20-21; Rev. 3:15-19).

  16. Strength • Divine power is evidenced in the heavenly realm (2 Thess. 1:6-10; Rev. 5:11-14; 7:9-12), and may also be observed in the human realm, as we faithfully serve the Lord (Eph. 1:18-21; 6:10-17; 1 Pet. 4:10-11).

  17. Strength • Nevertheless, humility is demanded. Though we serve God with all our strength, we must not depend upon our own might (Eccl. 9:10-12; 1 Cor. 1:26-31). • God provides renewed strength to those who faithfully wait upon Him (Isa. 40:27-31).

  18. Conclusion • Children learn through verbal instruction and visual observation. • Is the love of God reflected in our words and deeds?

  19. Conclusion • Are we teaching our children on a daily basis? • Do we remind them of the wondrous ways of God? • Do we manifest reverential fear? • Are we obedient to his Holy Word?

  20. Conclusion • Is God’s love seen in our emotions and attitudes, intellect and beliefs, life and personality, might and ability? • May our love for God grow with each passing day. • May God bless us as we instill such love in the hearts of our children.

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