28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.33 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.
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.
Mark 12:28-34
Jesus’s answer to the law professor’s question brings together two Scriptures – Deuteronomy 4:4 -5 and Leviticus 19:18. This is the first time in the Bible that these two separate “love” commands are unified. The first command relates to our “vertical relationship” with God, while the second relates to our “horizontal relationships” with others. We often hear that we need to be in right relationship with God as if the vertical is primary and the horizontal is secondary. Jesus doesn’t allow us to disconnect them. To be right with God demands being right with others, and to be right with others is necessary for being right with God. The kingdom of God is experienced only when the vertical and the horizontal are connected.
Why do you think we’ve kept “loving our neighbors” secondary (and optional)? Is loving our neighbor the same as loving God. Why or why not?
Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.
Tongue on Fire 