The One Command That Carries Them All | Mark 12:28-34

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Our text today is 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

In a moment filled with debates and trick questions, one man dares to ask something sincere: "What's the most important commandment?" That's the right question.

And Jesus doesn't hesitate. He quotes the Shema from Deuteronomy 6—words every Jewish boy and girl had memorized:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

That's it. That's the whole law in two lines. Love vertically. Love horizontally.

The man nods. He gets it. He says it back to Jesus, and Jesus replies: "You are not far from the kingdom."

We complicate faith. Jesus simplifies it.

It's not about rules or rituals. Not about knowledge or appearances. It's about love—real love. Do you love God with your whole being? Do you love people as you love yourself? That's the measuring stick—not how much you know, but how well you love. And it's convicting, because most of us are pretty good at loving ourselves. We think about ourselves. Protect ourselves. Excuse ourselves.

But Jesus says: That same energy you give yourself? Give it to others. And more than that—give all of yourself to God. The love God wants is total. Not partial. Not occasional. Not reserved. All of it. This command doesn't leave room for compartmentalized faith. It pulls everything into the light: affections, thoughts, decisions, actions.

So live all in for him who lived all in for you.

#GreatestCommandment, #Mark12, #LoveGodLovePeople

ASK THIS:

1. Why does Jesus say these two commands summarize the whole law?
2. Which area of love is hardest for you—heart, soul, mind, or strength?
3. Who is someone God may be calling you to love more intentionally?
4. What does “not far from the kingdom” mean in your life?

DO THIS:

Ask God to show you where your love for Him has grown thin, and who around you needs the love you’ve been withholding.

PRAY THIS:

God, help me love you with all that I am—and love others the way you love me. Let my faith be full of real love, not empty religion. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“The Heart of Worship”