How does Mark 12:28 connect with Deuteronomy 6:5 on loving God? Setting the Scene • Mark 12 finds Jesus in Jerusalem, fielding challenges from religious leaders. • Verse 28 records a scribe’s sincere question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?”. • Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5, immediately linking the two passages. Scripture Side-by-Side “Jesus replied, ‘This is the most important: “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.”’” “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Why Jesus Reaches for Deuteronomy • Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (the Shema) is Israel’s foundational confession. • By quoting it, Jesus affirms its ongoing authority and shows that loving God has always been central. • He also situates the greatest commandment within a covenantal context—love flows from God’s covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 6:1-3). Unity of Old and New • Jesus does not replace the command; He highlights it, proving the continuity of God’s Word (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:17-18). • The same God who spoke at Sinai speaks through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). • Love for God is the lens through which all other commands are fulfilled (Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14). Four-Fold Love Explained 1. Heart – affections, desires, motivations. 2. Soul – life, whole being, identity. 3. Mind – thoughts, intellect, worldview. 4. Strength – physical energy, resources, capabilities. • Jesus includes “mind,” expanding Deuteronomy’s phrasing to emphasize a comprehensive devotion. Practical Takeaways • Love is not abstract: it touches emotions, choices, intellect, and actions. • True obedience springs from love, not mere ritual (1 Samuel 15:22; John 14:15). • Worship, study, decision-making, and service become expressions of wholehearted devotion. Echoes Throughout Scripture • Joshua 22:5 – “Love the LORD your God... and serve Him with all your heart.” • 1 Kings 8:61 – A loyal heart toward the LORD fulfills His statutes. • Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27 – Parallel accounts reaffirm the same greatest command. • 1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us,” providing the motive and power for obedience. Summary Connection Mark 12:28 connects to Deuteronomy 6:5 by showing that from Torah to Gospel, God’s supreme requirement has never shifted: wholehearted, all-encompassing love for Him. |
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