Mark 12:33-34
”To love him with all your heart , with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him more questions.
Here Jesus is speaking with one of the “teachers of the law.” The teacher had asked Jesus a question, and then acknowledged the truth of Jesus’ response. The ultimate message is that the love and the respect we show God, and the love and respect with which we treat others, is far more important than any “sacrifice” we make to God to request forgiveness or somehow purchase his good will. God wants us to love Him, and to love each other. This, hopefully, will place us in the kingdom of God.
Father God, I will keep trying. Loving others is not always easy for me. Being judgmental and “right” sometimes, unfortunately comes more easily. Today I will have opportunities to be fair and kind, and show your love to others. Thank you for being with me today and always. Amen
Becky, transforming
Mark 12:33–34 When the teacher of religious law answered Jesus he mentioned “love my neighbor as myself.” I was surprised as I thought that was one of Jesus’ teachings which led to the story of the good Samaritan. I see my knowledge of the Old Testament is weak! This thought of loving your neighbor goes all the way back to Leviticus 19:18. Leviticus is so full of rules and regulations from God for Moses’ people, I have never read it thoroughly. From Leviticus to Psalms and Proverbs, from the gospels to Paul and James the theme is repeated. Obviously this is very important to God. We are, as humans, not very good at it! We want our neighbor to be lik…
Mark 12: 33-34
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
To love God and our neighbor is so very important. Sacrifice is needed to love God and keep his commandments. By believing in Jesus Christ we are saved by his sacrifice through his death on the cross. This sacrifice was the greatest sacrifice of all.
Dearest Lord, we thank you for all you have taught us. Keeping your commandments will be our way to eternal life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Mark 12:33-34 Jesus’ response to the teacher’s answer is interesting. It was not, “You are correct,” or “Blessed and wise are you,” but “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” The implication to me is that head faith must be linked to heart faith - the doing of and living the life of faith. Am I living my life like a Pharisee? Is my time in prayer and reading of Scripture only for my personal benefit - my “sacrifice” for God? Or does that time spent translate into what Wesley called “shedding the love of God abroad in the world”? Love of God (the first four Commandments) cannot be separated from love of neighbor (the last six Commandments). If…