The Greatest Commandment

[Dozen Arrows]

The Greatest Commandment 28One 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.[a] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[b] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c]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. 33To 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."
34When 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

[Chuck7]

Brother,
That my friend is one of my favorite portions of scripture in the entire Bible..thanks for the reminder.
C7

[Chuck7]

Let's study your verses Dozen Arrows..

28One 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] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The 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. 33To 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."


Right here,,just as Paul notes as well..When one truly obeys this love commandnent all the law is fulfilled..This man truly had a handle on the work of love ...and how it is "More " than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

One of my favorite verses..simply from a good understanding of God's Word we hear .."You are not far from the kingdom of God." Jesus says, "All that are taught of the Father cometh to me"..so in essence the Father has been teaching this law man ...

Also in one of Paul's letter we read,,,"you need no man to teach you about love for God himself teaches you to love."

1 John says..."He that knoweth God loveth..and he that knoweth not God ..loveth not."

The man wasn't "Far from the Kingdom of God"..what would put him in the Kingdom of God.?.
a. To be Born Again..
b, To not only know about love..but to be love's servant.

[Dozen Arrows]

You sure are putting me on the spot here Chuck

I am going to go with answer b. because not only are you going to hear the word of God but you are going do DO the word of God. This comes with obedience but this is a tricky question because you must be born again.

[Chuck7]

Sorry my friend..as a teacher I always write with a, b etc..That was no question..simply a comment.. OK I see the question mark..that was a rhetorical question..meaning a no brainer..

[Dozen Arrows]

LOL, how did I do anyway, LOL

[Chuck7]

You did great...I love that portion of scripture..It showshow Godvalues love..It's at the top..