The First and Greatest Commandment The Bible is the sacred text of all Christians. While there are variances between the bibles of some Christian denominations, all Bibles are divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament gives an account of the Israelites who are God’s chosen people. It is filled with myths, stories of love and animosity, harmony and conflict, infidelity, killing, conquest and defeat. It also contains stories of Prophets, messengers of God, who came to the people of how God expected them to act, but more significantly it forecast the coming of a Messiah who would be a liberator to the people. The New Testament is the story of the growth of Christianity, and the coming of the long anticipated Messiah. This covers the time shortly before the birth of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. The New Testament is about the life of Jesus and the lessons he taught during his time on earth. It recounts his death, resurrection, and ascent into heaven. The remainder of the New Testament tells how his followers dealt with his absence, how they continued on his works and spread his message. Region 2 The New Testament starts with four books called Gospels, which means “Good News”. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Although all four gospels tell the events of Jesus’ life, the Gospel according to Mark is exceptional between the four. It is the shortest of all four gospels. It is believed to be the first written, therefore, it is considered to be a foundation for which the other gospels were written. The book is officially regarded as the “Gospel According to Mark” even though it does not state who the author was. The author is believed to be John Mark who was a follower of Jesus some time after Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was probably written during the time period A.D. 55 and 70. John Mark traveled with Jesus’ apostle, Peter. It is because of John Mark’s relationship with the apostle Peter that the gospel of Mark is considered as having apostolic origins. This term, apostolic origins, means that it was written by either an apostle of Jesus or someone who had a close association with an apostle. John Mark is also revealed in some of Paul’s epistles because he traveled with Paul and Barnabas. It is because of his close connection with Peter and Paul that the gospel of Mark is a narrative or biography of Jesus. It recounts very detailed events of his life and exact lessons that he taught. Since he worked with Peter, he had material on all types of stories about Jesus. He heard numerous stories of Jesus’ teachings. We find one of these stories told in the Gospel According to Mark 12: 28-34. It is frequently referred to as “The First and Greatest Commandment”. In this narrative gospel of Mark, Jesus is preaching when a scribe attempted to ask him which commandment was the first, or in other words, which one was most important to follow. His response to this question was “love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all

Region 3 your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30) and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). The scribe who originally questioned him replied by stating that he knew these things were essential above all other things such as “burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law” (Mark 12:33). It is obvious that Jesus felt that understanding and abiding by these commandments because John Mark by writing that when Jesus saw that the scribe comprehended he told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God”. The place of this passage in the Bible is not unexpected because it is surrounded by passages which are alike in that Jesus’ authority to teach and beliefs are being tested by the authority figures in the Jewish faith, principally those who run the Jewish Temple. It is vital to notice that Jesus answered by stating not one but two commandments. They were given to Moses and the Israelites many years ago. We find them in Deuteronomy 6:5 as well as in Leviticus 19:18. We find these passages not only in what Christians refer to as the Old Testament, but are in the Torah which is the sacred scripture of the Jewish faith. Jesus would have been acquainted with it as a practicing Jew. Just as important is the fact that these passages are built on the core idea of love. What Jesus teaches as the first of all commandments is not merely a recommendation that people love God, but a command that we do so. It is an order, a law, an absolute requirement which is necessary in order to go to heaven rather than hell. The message of “The First and Greatest Commandment” is to inaugurate Jesus as the new lawgiver with the message to love God and to love others. We must know and comprehend these commandments and relate them to our lives so we may enter into the kingdom of God.

Region 4 One must see that Jesus states two passages from the Old Testament. This might seem unimportant but it is actually very important. We find that the authority of Jesus is regularly being questioned and he is being put to the test by Scribes and Pharisees. The Jewish leaders were not happy with Jesus’ practices because he did not adhere to the Mosaic Law or the Covenant which is the list of rules and regulations that firmly directed the religious and community life and acted as their constitution which included the Ten Commandments. Jesus cured the sick on the Sabbath and ate with sinners and lepers which are things that the scribes and Pharisees would never dream of doing. When Jesus quoted the sacred texts of the Jews, he established that he was a devoted and practicing Jew. This may have mixed up the Scribes because his teachings made a declaration to the Jews that he was the new covenant, the new lawgiver. The idea of something with more authority than the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament was extremely troubling to the Jewish leaders because they did not want another way. The Old Testament can also be referred to as a law of fear and bondage because it concentrated mainly on rules, laws, and punishments. Jesus came to address not the same message but one of hope and love, which he summed up in these two sentences. This is why the New Testament can be referred to as the New Law. The Old Testament was about external appearances while the New Testament was about individual and close relationships. Jesus definitely taught about the significance of obedience to God but he taught that it is better to obey God because of love and not fear of punishment. We follow the law of God because we love him. And with that same love, it is only reasonable that we would treat our neighbor with that same love as we would want to be treated. This passage in Mark is a wonderful example of Jesus’ diverse form of teaching and how he established himself as the new lawgiver to the people with his message Region 5 to love God and to love others. We find that the adjacent Gospels of Matthew and Luke also contain this same passage. But the setting in these two gospels is entirely different than Mark. It is very stressed, harsh, and intolerant. The persons enquiring or challenging Jesus are not inquiring in order to receive answers. They are trying to find a way to catch Jesus saying something that could be taken in an aggressive way to the Jewish faith and tradition. They hoped to convict him on a charge of blasphemy or another associated offense. After hearing Jesus’ answer, his questioners are more provoked and set on his conviction than before. The same passage in Mark is a great contrast. The setting is pleasant and accepting. In Mark we find that the scribe who questions Jesus thinks about the answer that he is given and finds that he agrees with it. He recaps the answer in a way that also understands it, first by maintaining that there are no gods other than God and then maintaining that this is far more significant than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices made right there in the Temple. He is able to apply the message to his own life. Unlike the Jewish leaders in the adjacent gospels, the scribe was able to see the big picture and is able to look past the law of fear and punishment and see the message of love that Jesus taught. This is exactly what Jesus wants all of his supporters to do. He wants his supporters to take his message and nor merely accept it but to apply it to their life. The significance that Jesus places on this, as well as the need he has for us to comprehend and act on his love is sealed when he tells the wise scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). Region 6 It should not be supposed that John Mark planned this as an attack on Judaism or that he desired his listeners of Christian Jews to feel ethically greater to Jews who did sacrifices. The notion that burnt offerings might be an lesser way of worshipping God, even though the law demands them, had long been debated in Judaism and can even be found in Hosea 6:6 “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings”. The scribe’s remark here consequently might not have been intended as anti-Jewish but on the other hand it comes right after some very antagonistic meetings between Jesus and the Temple authorities. Even allowing for a very liberal understanding, however, the circumstance remains that future Christians did not have the education and experiences necessary to understand the above without hostility. This passage was intended to become one of those used by anti-Semitic Christians to protect their feelings of authority and their argument that Judaism has been succeeded by Christianity and that a single Christian’s love of God is worth more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices of the Jews. Mark 12: 28-34 can be interpreted and discussed hundreds of ways. The religious meaning of this passage was to inaugurate Jesus as the new lawgiver as well as to preach his message to love God and to love others. We should be able to comprehend that we could live out his message by accepting it and applying it to our everyday lives. When we can completely live out this First and Greatest Commandment then like the scribe, we would be in a place in which we long to be, and Jesus longs for all of humanity to be, and that is “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). Region 7 But who is the others that Jesus wants us to love? Is it merely people nearby you? Is it people that you have some kind of connection? Or is it everyone in the world? Christians have disagreed on this answer but the general agreement today contends that others being understood to mean all of humanity. We frequently think of neighbors as the people who live near us, but Jesus meant it to consist of all mankind, even our enemies. Jesus told His well-known parable of the Good Samaritan to make it crystal clear that “love your neighbor” means to love all persons, everywhere, not just our friends. The Jews and Samaritans had been enemies for hundreds of years. The Jews of Jesus’ day considered the Samaritans to be ritually unclean, socially outcasts, and religious heretics. Yet, a Samaritan took pity on the poor man who had been robbed and beaten. He gave generously of his time and his money to help this Jewish man who was not only a stranger but was also an enemy from a distant country. Just like the considerate Samaritan man, we are called to extend our love and concern to all persons the world over as our neighbors. We should not ignore anyone or any group because of social position, character, religious difference, or ethnic group. We are not destined to live hard-hearted or self-centered lives. We are called to put our belief into practice and really love our neighbors, particularly those less prosperous. If we look around at all the people we walk by each day we need to realize that they are somebody’s father, mother, brother, or sister and must be regarded as such. Jesus said that we are to be kind to all men (Matthew 5:45) because the Father is also kind. He sends the sun and rain upon us all, whether just or unjust. But those who generously helps us in difficult times are

Region 8 the ones Jesus said are our neighbors and we are to love them just like we love ourselves. We should view all people as our neighbor. Maybe that is what is wrong with the world today. Everyone is treating their neighbors (whether individuals or countries) the same way they treat themselves. In other words, if you condemn yourself, poison your body, and do not take time to respect your own needs then your neighbor is in for a bumpy time. Especially when you begin to treat (or love) them the way you treat yourself. As the song goes, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love..." But how can we share love with others when we do not know what love is in the first place? We must begin by accepting and loving our life and see the blessings everywhere. If we constantly demean ourselves, disapprove of our home or work surroundings, or feel that we are not living up to our own beliefs, where is the love? To love ourselves completely, we must admit our inadequacies, our worries, disappointments as well as the parts of which we accept. Love is definitely the solution to all of our ailments and to the world's problems. It may be simple but it is true. If we all really loved and cherished each then how could there be conflicts? How could there be rapes, homicides, and other forms of violence? What do we need to do to produce accord with our neighbors? It is as simple as accepting yourself and accepting others and loving yourself and loving others. If we judge ourselves severely, it goes without saying that we will have a tendency to judge others with the same yardstick. Once we can accept and love ourselves, it becomes easier to love and receive people. If we develop love for ourselves, then we will also start loving our fellow human beings. Region 9 To show love to our neighbor we can help others in need. This does not always mean providing cash. It can be an act as modest as opening the door for someone who has their arms full of groceries or holding the door for a mother pushing a stroller. You can also offer to babysit for a friend who has an important task to do. The act of helping others does not have to be a large complex act. We should be eager to do it without expecting anything in return. Every time you see a need that you can accomplish, just do it. It could be as simple as washing the dishes when you know your partner is tired, or even taking out the trash. There is so much that we as Christians can do to spread the word and principals of God. It just takes a moment to share that love. The kind of love in both of these laws is agape love. As far as the second commandment, this love looks for the maximum good for our neighbor. In order to really focus on loving people, we have to always be conscious of how much Jesus loves us by how He laid His life down for us on the cross. When we are grateful for Him, we can truly express the love needed to plant the seed into an unbeliever’s heart. Mark 12:28-34 says “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?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with

Region 10 all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 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 that all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 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.” The question is how we apply this in our everyday lives 2000 years later. We have to look at the belief of the Bible verse rather than the letter of the law. Jesus was indorsing striding out beyond our comfort area and encompasses love, compassion, and mercy. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves then we are going to have to take on a different mind-set than that of our cultural norm. We are going to have to start being neighbors to the wounded, the hurting, and those that need some compassion and mercy rather than judgment. We are going to have to quit looking for reasons not to help, or for reasons why they deserve what they are getting and open up and be neighbors like Jesus described. For me, that means that even if a person has hurt me in the past, I still have to love my neighbor. I am still to treat them the way that I would want to be treated. I have to love them in the same way I love myself.

Bibliography
Hurtado, Larry W. Mark. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1989. Print.
Miller, Paul. Love Walked among Us: Learning to Love like Jesus. Colorado Springs, Colorado. NavPress Pub Group, 2014. Print.
Priolo, Lou. Selfishness: From Loving Yourself to Loving Your Neighbor. Phillipsburg, PA.
P & R Publishing, 2010. Resources for Biblical Living. Print.
Smith, Christopher R. Mark. Downers Grove, IL. InterVarsity, 2013. Print. Understanding the Books of the Bible.
Telushkin, Joseph. A Code of Jewish Ethnics. Vol. 2. Harmony, 2009. Print.