The Law of Love (Mark 12:28-34)

  • All God’s commands find their substance in love for Him (12:28-29)

    • Jesus responds by quoting Deut. 6:4-5

      • Second generation wilderness wanderers are reminded of the Law

      • Moses concludes this with these words because obedience flows out of love, and the previous generation failed miserably!

      • Israelites quickly converted this and a few other passages into a regular prayer we call the shema

    • The love God desires is:

      • Singular (the Lord is one)

      • All-encompassing (heart, soul, strength)

  • Our love of God drives us to love for neighbor (12:31)

    • Jesus then goes beyond the question and gives a second most important commandment, quoting Lev. 19:18.

    • Jesus does this to remind his audience that these two commandments are:

      • Inextricably linked

        • Good samaritan parable

      • The basis for the entire law

        • Lev 19 is full of laws about treating your neighbor and the foreigner with love

  • The Law of the Kingdom is Love (32--34)

    • Jesus’ answer sufficiently upholds the Law while exposing pharisaical thinking.

    • The scribe recognizes what Israel misses throughout all of the OT, which is that lawkeeping flowing out of anything but love is worthless.

    • Israel desires the Kingdom to come, but continues to miss the point of the Law which brings it.