Text: Mark 12:28-34
Background: A group of religious leaders came to trap Jesus in his words. Mark identifies them as Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians ~ a group of Jews who spoke Greek and were heavily influenced by Greek culture. These three groups regularly opposed Jesus.
Issues:
• Should we pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?
(Pharisees and Herodians)
• And then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, give trapping Jesus a go with this bizarre story:
19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
Jesus was really blunt with these guys. He told them, “you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” He concluded, “You are badly mistaken!”
I.e. not everyone is right. Some people are wrong. There is such a thing as absolute truth.
Finally, a teacher of the law heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given the others 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 neighbour 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 neighbour 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)
Lawyer: Which is the most important commandment?
Jesus: The most important one. (Greek: protos)
The English prefix proto comes from this Greek word. It means first, foremost, or the earliest form of. For example, a prototype is an original model on which something is patterned. In the same way, the commands that Jesus says are the most important are the proto on which our faith is patterned. Followers of Jesus are to be known for their love of God and their love of others.
To love someone, you have to connect with them and get to know them. Connection is one of Bayside Church’s Core Values. It states, God is a community (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and we are created in his image. We’re not meant to do life in isolation; connection with fellow believers ensures we walk the path God intended.
Connection was God’s Plan from the beginning.
Genesis 2:18, The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”
The Hebrew word translated “man” is adam and refers humans or people. So, we could translate that verse, “It is not good for people to be alone.” Alone here refers to being disconnected from others. This is powerfully illustrated in the next chapter (Genesis 3), when the crafty serpent came to Eve when she was alone.
Connection was God’s Plan from the beginning and connecting with others is God’s ongoing plan for His people.
When asked about the protos commandment Jesus quoted Leviticus 19:18 to prove his point: “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Cf. Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31, 33; Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8)
Take a look at three of these verses:
Romans 13:9-10, “The commandments…are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Galatians 5:14, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
James 2:8, If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right.
“The royal law” (the preeminent or most important thing. Protos)
Your Neighbour is someone who is near to you. And so, God’s plan is that we love those who are near us like we love ourselves.
Loving our neighbour presumes that we know our neighbour, that we are close to people and in relationship with them. That is what belonging to a church community is all about. Jesus didn’t die so that you could have something to do on Sunday morning. Church is not just something we attend or go to. It’s a community that we’re a part of.
God’s Plan: Care, concern, involvement, growth, belonging, effectiveness, serving, closeness, friendship, accountability, safety, acceptance, comfort, fun, laughter, food, support and the opportunity to be connected to something that is bigger than yourself! Because:
“It’s still not good for people to be alone.”
Discussion Questions
1. Followers of Jesus are to be known for their love of God and their love of others. Is that what we’re recognised for? How could we improve our track record of being known for our love?
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “…you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” What does the analogy of a human body say about connection between people in a church community?
Discuss Bayside Church’s Core Value of connection: God is a community (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and we are created in his image. We’re not meant to do life in isolation; connection with fellow believers ensures we walk the path God intended.
Discuss the difference between being alone, lonely, and disconnected. Share your experiences of these things both positive and negative.
“Love your neighbour as yourself” presumes that we love ourselves. Discuss this.
Sometimes, our connection with others can be detrimental or unhealthy. For example, in a codependent friendship. How can you guard your heart and establish healthy boundaries while you connect with others?
You are encouraged to read and reflect on Bayside Church’s Core Values: https://baysidechurch.com.au/our-story/our-core-values/