The Heart Behind It
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. 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.”
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.”
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
Insight
If you ever want to understand the depth of the Old Covenant, google random laws in Leviticus you think you might be breaking. I will go ahead and warn you, you’re probably breaking 2 or 3 at any given moment!
Currently, as I am writing this, I have broken Leviticus 19:27 because someone trimmed my beard a couple of weeks ago. I am also breaking Leviticus 19:19 because my pants are not the same material and design as my shirt. The list goes on and on of the laws that existed for God’s people in the Old Covenant.
Some people practice what is known as “cherry picking” when it comes to the Old Covenant. They leverage the laws of the Bible to scare, intimidate, and even bully people into better behavior. “The Bible says…” is one of the most harmful sentences you could ever say to someone when your only intention is correction.
Jesus stepped onto the scene when 600+ laws were held over “most” of the people. The reason only “most” people were held to the laws was because the Pharisees had learned the power of their interpretation of the law. The access to learning the law was limited, and we all know how the abuse of power creeps in when a few are the only ones who know better. So, the Pharisees carried their “power” over the people. But Jesus knew it was abuse, and only He could level the playing field for humanity.
In a move that surely caught everyone’s attention at the time, Jesus made a new law. This was unheard of considering the lack of official schooling and title Jesus had to do such a thing. But, Jesus was not just about changing the law, He was also changing the entire course of humanity.
Jesus said that in order to obey the entirety of the law all you had to do was love God with everything you have, and love others as you love yourself.
While we know that commandment is not easy, we have to realize how it levels the playing field for all of humanity. In the Old Covenant, there was no equal standard. Depending on your position, authority, or even salary, the full extent of the law may not be held against you. But the new commandant from Jesus had no bias. There was no wrong way to interpret the new commandment. Jesus laid it out as clear as day.
Jesus used every day of His life to live this out. Jesus personified loving His Father with all His heart, soul, mind, and strength. And Jesus personified what it meant to love others as He loved Himself. You cannot find someone who loved more and completely than Jesus.
The greatest sacrifice you bring to God is not a physical object; the greatest sacrifice you bring is love. Your love for Him and your love for others leads to what the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:2, “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
We all desire to sacrifice to God and bring Him something pleasing, and nothing pleases Him more than His children living and walking in the way of love.
Reflection
Are you making love a fragrant offering to God?
Prayer
Father, thank you for changing the world with Your Son. As I continue to walk with You, I desire to bring You my offerings. Help me to make love my offering, and let it be a sweet fragrance to You. I love You Father, and pray in Your name, Amen.
Port City writer Davy Nance wrote today’s devotional.
