This blog began as documentation of my journey into formal ministry. Now that I have received a call it will continue to function as a place for me to address concerns, celebrations and anything else that might catch my fancy. Please remember to "Be A Blessing To Someone Today"! God Bless, Roy
Woodlawn CC
Showing posts with label The Greatest Commandment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Greatest Commandment. Show all posts
Last Sunday the Lectionary brought us to that well-known story that is found in one form or another in all three Synoptic Gospels, the "Greatest Commandment". We are called to love God with all that we are and likewise, we are called to love our neighbors equally to our own being... no small order. It is difficult for us to love anyone as much as we love ourselves, and that doesn't even address the fact that far too many folks are just plain unlovable. (myself included at far too many points in my life) But, no matter how terrible the soul is, we are called to love them none-the-less... this being a Christian can be hard at times. At the end of the sermon, I addressed the comment by Jesus that the Scribe is not far from the Kingdom of God. You'll have to listen to the video to see how I addressed this, but one angle I didn't explore was that 'literally' the Scribe was not far from the Kingdom of God. He was, in fact, talking to the King face to face at that very moment... Be a blessing to someone today!!! In Christ alone, Roy
Mark 12:28-34 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The First Commandment
28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 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.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
This past Sunday's sermon covered the "Greatest Commandment" and the verses that stymied Jesus' detractors concerning "Whose Son is the Christ". The question I'll ask of you is "How best do we show our love for our God"? and the answer that I will assert is best suited is "by loving God's children". If we love our Lord, we must then love His children. By loving our neighbor as much as we love ourselves we are living out our love for God. The verses on the "Son of David" are a warning to not be overly literal in our approach to scripture. If we take the verses literally, then it is indeed befuddling as to how David can call the Messiah "Lord" when the Messiah is to be David's son. (any male child that is a descendant of David's no matter how many generations down the line would be considered his son) But, if we focus not on the earthly genealogy of Christ, but rather stay focused on His spiritual genealogy, we can understand that this "Son of God" whom we call Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah. As followers of Christ, we are not to fixate on His earthly heritage but to recognize His heavenly heritage. Remember to... "be a blessing to someone today"! In His Grace & Love, Roy
Matthew 22:34-46 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Greatest Commandment 34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” The Question about David’s Son 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 “What do you think of the Messiah?[a] Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit[b] calls him Lord, saying, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. Footnotes: a) Matthew 22:42 Or Christ b) Matthew 22:43 Gk in spirit Leviticus 19:18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Psalm 110:1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 1 The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” Hosea 6:6 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Mark 12:33 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
