MARK 12:28-34
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Life of Christ #50
I remember a guy named Joey who was engaged to Sally. They were close to getting married. They were so close that I had given them their premarital counseling, and all the arrangements had been made for the service and the reception. (I’ve changed the names of these people, but this really did happen!)
It was about a week before the wedding when Joey called Sally and cancelled the whole thing, much to the chagrin of Sally, Sally’s parents, Joey’s parents, and me, who had to try and pick of the pieces. Joey had been close, but never did get married. On the other hand, Sally was close to being married more than once. The second time she did get married.
· I’ve known people who were close to going to college, but never got there.
· I’ve known people who were close to buying a certain car or home, but never did.
· I’ve known people who were close to falling in love with a person, but never did.
· I’ve also known people who were close to trusting Jesus as their Savior, but never did.
I’ve also known people close to going to college who went to college; people close to buying a car or home who did; people who were close to falling in love and did; and people who were close to getting saved who did trust Christ as their Savior.
It is good to get close to doing something positive. We usually make progress towards a decision before we make a decision. It is tragic when we get close to doing the right thing and never do.
We return to our series in the Life of Christ. It is the last week of Jesus’ life, probably just a couple days before he died. He had been approached by the Pharisees, Herodians, and the Sadducees in the Temple with two questions, one about paying taxes to Caesar, and the other about the resurrection. These groups were trying to trip Jesus up so they could accuse Him, but they couldn’t trip up or ensnare Jesus in His own words, because he is God.
Finally, the religious legalists of the day, the Pharisees, sent forward one of their own to question Jesus. This man was different from the typical, legalistic Pharisee, who wanted everything done to the letter of God’s laws or man-made interpretations of those laws.
This scribe, a copyist and expert in the Jewish religious writings, ended up being close to the Kingdom of Heaven, far closer than most of the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Perhaps you will find yourself to be like this scribe, close to the Kingdom of Heaven, but not necessarily in it.
AN HONEST QUESTION – Vs. 28
The first two questions that had been asked of Jesus were ones designed to trip Him up and get Him condemned or censored. The first question involved taxes. The second involved resurrection.
This question was of a different nature.
First of all, notice that this scribe had listened to Jesus’ encounter with the Sadducees. He was well pleased with the answer that Jesus gave to a very difficult question.
This question was not a trick question. It was an honest question …Which is the first commandment of all?
Warren Wiersbe – “The scribes had determined that the Jews were obligated to obey 613 precepts in the Law, 365 negative precepts and 248 positive precepts. One of their favorite exercises was discussing which of those divine commandments was the greatest.” Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, (Wheaton, Illinois, Victor Books, 1989), p. 153
With all the “laws” that were available it was significant to know which one was the most important, or on which ones were all the others based, or how they could be summarized. It is good in religion, as well as most aspects of life to have priorities.
The Scribe heard Jesus answer well, so he asked an honest question that was not only important to Him, but to the Jewish religion as well.
You will notice that on the first two questions of that day, Jesus rebuked those asking.
When He was asked about paying taxes to Caesar, He responded, Why tempt ye me? (Mark 12:15)
When He was asked about the resurrection he said,
Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)
This man received no rebuke because it was an honest question.
I am encouraged that when I have sincere, honest questions, that God does not rebuke me for asking. In fact God encourages sincere, honest questions especially when we are going through trials.
James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Don’t ever hesitate to ask honest questions of God, or of His servants. God welcomes them. God’s servants should welcome them.
It means that someone wants to learn, wants to know, and wants to grow.
AN HONEST QUESTION – Vs. 28
A HOLY ANSWER – Vss. 29-31
Vs. 29 – Jesus had an answer, part of which was actually very familiar to the scribe. We would say that it was “right under his nose.”
Verses 29-30 were part of the “shema”, quoted by pious Jews in their worship both morning and evening. It is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and is an affirmation that there is only one God. The word “shema” means “hear”.
This is a good reminder for all of us. Jesus said there is only one God. Those who say, “We all worship the same God”, are sadly mistaken.
The Muslims say there is only one God, but their God is not the God of the Bible.
Many liberal theologians say there is only one God, but it is not the God of the Bible.
You can not say that a person who is worshipping idols is worshipping the God of the Bible.
And unless you are worshipping one God with three distinct personalities in the Godhead, you are not worshipping the God of the Bible!
Vs. 30 – God wants to be loved.
And just as a husband wants the total love of his wife, and a wife wants the total love of her husband, God wants the total love of His creatures.
God wants our love for him to go beyond human love for a husband, a wife, a relative, or a friend. God wants our love for Him to be superior to our love for any person, and activity, any thing.
Luke 14:26-27 - If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
If you are a Christian your love for God should translate into:
· A strong desire to abide in Christ
· A strong desire to spend time with God in prayer and worship
· A strong desire to learn from God’s Word
· A strong desire to worship with other Christians
· A strong desire to please Him in everything
· A strong desire to allow Him to control your life
We should take seriously the warning of Exodus 34:14 - For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
And if you are a Christian, you realize that Jesus is setting a standard that you have never attained.
To love the Lord our God the way described would mean that you would have to keep the first four of the Ten Commandments perfectly.
· Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
· Exodus 20:4-6 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord
thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands
of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
· Exodus 20:7 - Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
· Exodus 20:8 - Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
In fact, it is because nobody has kept this commandment to love God completely that Jesus came to earth.
There is only one human who ever kept this commandment perfectly, the Lord Jesus, the God Man Himself.
I believe that Jesus wanted this scribe to realize that he had not kept this commandment and was in need of help. Jesus would point to Himself as the one who would die for the sins of not loving God the way one should.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Vs. 31 – Jesus gives a second commandment.
Not only is a person to love God completely, he was to love his neighbor as himself.
This was a quote was from Leviticus 19:18 - Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord.
Jesus is showing that loving our neighbor was part of loving God. If we don’t love our neighbor, we don’t love God.
And again loving our neighbor as ourselves is summed up in the Ten Commandments.
· Exodus 20:12 - Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
· Exodus 20:13 - Thou shalt not kill.
· Exodus 20:14 - Thou shalt not commit adultery.
· Exodus 20:15 - Thou shalt not steal.
· Exodus 20:16 - Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
· Exodus 20:17 - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus made it clear that undue anger was equivalent of murder and lusting after a woman was the equivalent of adultery.
Matthew 5:21-22 - Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:27-28 - Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Jesus’ summary of the God’s Law was complete.
It was forceful.
It is convicting.
AN HONEST QUESTION – Vs. 28
A HOLY ANSWER – Vss. 29-31
AN HONORABLE RESPONSE – Vss. 32-33
Vs. 32 – This Scribe was special. He was not like so many of Jesus’ enemies who were constant opposition to Him.
He was a breath of “fresh air”. His response was very positive.
The scribe exclaimed, “Well said!” or “Beautifully said!”
He then explained why he agreed with the Lord Jesus.
The stunning thing about this man is that, although he was a part of a group which wanted to destroy Jesus, he was open to the truth, and willing to acknowledge it when he saw it.
May we be equally willing to approve of the truth when it is expressed to us!
Vs. 33 – He also acknowledged that the moral law, our love commitment to God and Man was more important than any sort of animal sacrifice. That was the ceremonial law.
He was not discarding the animal sacrifices. He was simply prioritizing as to what was most important.
Our love for God and man is more important than any sacrifice we could make.
AN HONEST QUESTION – Vs. 28
A HOLY ANSWER – Vss. 29-31
AN HONORABLE RESPONSE – Vss. 32-33
A HOPEFUL WORD – Vs. 34
Jesus announced that this man was “not far” from the Kingdom of Heaven. That means that he was very close.
· He accepted Jesus teaching intellectually.
· He recognized the love for God and for one’s neighbor as the ultimate fulfillment of the law.
· He was being honest and not hiding behind the legalism he had grown up with.
· He obviously respected the Lord Jesus.
He was close to the Kingdom of Heaven.
There may be some of you who are close to the Kingdom of Heaven.
· You’ve heard the Gospel, perhaps all your life.
· You acknowledge that love for God and man is ultimate.
· You may acknowledge that you are a sinner and that Jesus died for the sins of the World.
There is hope for you, just as there was hope for this scribe.
You’re close!
So, what did this scribe have to do to go from being close to being in?
He had to admit that He couldn’t save Himself.
He had to turn to Jesus by faith and trust Him as Lord and Savior.
He couldn’t rely on His own law keeping or law keeping plus Jesus.
He had to trust Jesus explicitly.
You are no different.
You must admit that you can’t save yourself.
You must turn to Jesus by faith and trust Him as Lord and Savior.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was good that the man was close.
It is good if you are close to the Kingdom.
But being close to the Kingdom is not being in the Kingdom.
You need to trust Jesus as your Savior!
AN HONEST QUESTION – Vs. 28
A HOLY ANSWER – Vss. 29-31
AN HONORABLE RESPONSE – Vss. 32-33
A HOPEFUL WORD – Vs. 34
A HORRIBLE THOUGHT
The scribe was a good man.
The scribe was leaning towards Christ.
The scribe was close.
But here’s a horrible thought.
Unless this man placed his faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, for as close as He was, He didn’t make it.
John 3:16-18 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith…
Let me ask you as I close this message.
Are you in the faith?
· Have you turned from all other ways of saving yourself through your own self effort and placed total faith on the saving work of Christ on the cross?
· Have you given up trying to be righteous in your own strength?
· Has Christ changed your life? Are you a new creature in Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
· Are you acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord in your life? If Jesus is your Savior, He is to be acknowledged as your Lord.
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
It would be such a shame to be close and never have trusted Christ.
The scribe was close.
AN HONEST QUESTION – Vs. 28
A HOLY ANSWER – Vss. 29-31
AN HONORABLE RESPONSE – Vss. 32-33
A HOPEFUL WORD – Vs. 34
A HORRIBLE THOUGHT