More Important Than Sacrifice

God's People Worship
The Prophet and Praise
Gifts for the Temple

Mark 12:28-34

The Message

The Most Important Commandment

²⁸ One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

^29-31 Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”
^32-33 The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!”
³⁴ When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”
After that, no one else dared ask a question.

For Reflection

Simple, isn't it.  Love God. Love others.  And yet, in practice so complex.  Why is it so?  God has given us the means to be obedient to the love directive, prayer, study, and an abiding faith that in God all outcomes are good. 

Pray

for trust in God.  Pray for courage to wait on the Lord.  Pray for the wisdom to face your daily life in joyful anticipation.