In this message, Pastor Ricky teaches from Mark 12:28-34. In this passage, Jesus says the most important commandment is to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Together we learned what it looks like to love God wholeheartedly, love others genuinely, and follow Jesus completely.
Sermon Notes
The Gospel of Mark A Love Supreme // Mark 12:28-34
“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And 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.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’ And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 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, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.” Mark 12:28-34
“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well” Mark 12:28
Old Testament Commands
613 commandments
248 positive commandments
365 negative commandments
1. Love God Wholeheartedly
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5
“Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE; AND 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.’” Mark 12:29-30 NASB
Jesus say’s “the LORD (Yahweh) the self-revealed name of God that defines His covenantal relationship with His people our God (Elohim) the one and only God deserving of worship,”
“Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.” Isaiah 43:10b
Heart - center of our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Soul - center of our emotional activity.
Mind - center of our intellectual life, and attitude.
Strength - center of our bodily powers, even our will.
“God is never satisfied with anything less than the devotion of our whole life for the duration of our lives.” Sinclair Ferguson
2. Love Others Genuinely
“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:31
“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18
“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
“A person cannot be a true Christian if they remain uninterested in those whom Christ died for.”
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21
3.Follow Jesus Completely
“And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 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, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.” Mark 12:32-34
“And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 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, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’” Mark 12: 32-33
“And Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.’” 1 Samuel 15:22
“And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.’” Mark 12:34
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekial 36:26
