seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
It's hard to keep track of all the laws humans have written up. In Virginia Beach, there use to be a law on the books about spitting on the street. There used to be a law against sharing a burger in Virginia. I went to one church meeting, in a church there in Calvert County, when they decided smoking on the church property was to be condemned. So, they passed a "church rule" no smoking on church property. I have fond memories of all the men hanging out in the parking lot after church. They were all smoking, talking about the community news, and being all "good men", while the wives talked and watched us kids play. Somehow smoking became a "sin". The comradery was destroyed, they started just getting in their cars and leaving. After being locked up in the sanctuary all morning with a long-winded preacher, those "good men" need a smoke! So, they went home instead of hanging out.There are a lot of stupid laws on the books in Maryland! You can't sell condoms in a vending machine unless you are serving drinks on the premises. See.... stupid rules to "save" stupid drunks.
The man who wrote this Gospel was not a Disciple or an Apostle. He would become an evangelist, working with, and causing a kerfuffle between Paul and Barnabas. So, it's quite fitting Mark [John Mark in the book of Acts] should bring up the "which law is more important" discussion. There were squabbles in the church back then too! Church rules and doctrines can get in the way of the Word.
Jesus said there are only Two Commandments.
1. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.
2. Love others as you love yourself.
Come on.... which commandment have you broken today?
There are a lot of stupid laws!
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