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Mark 12:29-31 - Love For God And Mankind Are Revealed In The Ten Commandments.

Mark 12:29-31 - Love For God And Mankind Are Revealed In The Ten 
Commandments. 

Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV) Jesus answered him, "The first of all the 
commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you 
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, 
with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first 
commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor 
as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."  

The Scripture passage here quoted (Deut. 6:4) has been the 
sacred watchword of Israel down through their long history. It reflects 
the distinctive belief of the Jews in the one true God, in contrast 
with the many gods of the nations. These words were uttered to open 
the morning and evening prayer services in the Temple, and are a 
regular part of Jewish synagogue services to this day.  [SDA Bible 
Commentary] 

The first quotation came to be known as the Shema, named after 
the first word of Deut. 6:4 in Hebrew, which means "hear." The Shema 
became the Jewish confession of faith, which was recited by pious Jews 
every morning and evening. To this day it begins every synagogue 
service... To the Shema Jesus joined the commandment from Lev 19:18 to show 
that love for neighbor is a natural and logical outgrowth of love for 
God. [NIV SB] 

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with 
all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This 
is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this: Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment 
greater than these." These two great principles embrace the first four 
commandments, showing the duty of man to God, and the last six, showing the 
duty of man to his fellowman. 1BC1104 

The Ten Commandments can be divided into two categories: those 
dealing with love for God (the first four Commandments) and those 
dealing with responsibilities toward other people (the last six 
Commandments). The same may be said for all the Law and the Prophets. [Nelson 
SB re Mat. 22:29-31] 

  Mine deep enough in every heart and you'll find it: a longing 
for meaning, a quest for purpose. As surely as a child breathes, he 
will someday wonder, "What is the purpose of my life?" 
  Some search for meaning in a career. "My purpose is to be a 
dentist." Fine vocation but hardly a justification for existence. They opt 
to be a human "doing" rather than a human "being." Who they are is 
what they do; consequently they do a lot. They work many hours 
because if they don't work, they don't have an identity. 
  For others, who they are is what they have. They find meaning 
in a new car or a new house or new clothes. These people are great 
for the economy and rough on the budget because they are always 
seeking meaning in something they own ... Some try sports, 
entertainment, cults, sex, you name it. 
  All mirages in the desert of purpose...
  Shouldn't we face the truth? If we don't acknowledge God, we 
are flotsam in the universe. [Grace For The Moment SB By Max Lucado 
re Mark 12:30] 

  On Christmas morning, little Amy was delighted to find a 
beautiful golden-haired doll among the presents she unwrapped. "She's so 
pretty!" Amy squealed in excitement as she hugged her new doll. Then 
rushing to hug her grandmother, the giver of the doll, she cried, "Thank 
you, thank you, thank you!" 
  Amy played with her new doll most of the day, but toward 
evening she put it down and sought out one of her old dolls. Amy cradled 
the tattered and dilapidated old doll in her arms. Its hair had 
nearly worn away, its nose was broken, one eye was askew, and an arm 
was missing. 
  "Well, well," Grandma noted, "it seems as though you like that 
old dolly better." 
  "I like the beautiful doll you gave me, Grandma," little Amy 
explained, "but I love this old doll more, because if I didn't love her, no 
one else would." 
  We all know the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the 
beholder." A similar saying might be, "Love is the choice of the beholder." 
When we see faults in others, we can choose to look beyond them. We 
can choose to love them regardless of their negative attributes, 
faults, or quirks. [God's Little Devotional Bible] 

Love is not the work of the Holy Spirit, it is the Holy 
Spirit--working in us. God is love, He doesn't merely have it or give it; He 
gives Himself--to all men, to all sorts and conditions. Joseph Fletcher 
 

Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/

More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com