Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God is ONE LORD - Part 1292

Interestingly, even those who were perceived to be wise were not always able to answer Jesus a word, neither -- as noted in the scriptures -- durst ask Him any more questions from that day forth. (Matthew 22:46) One such example is when the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence. As we can see from the multitude that was listening to Jesus at the time, they were astonished at His doctrine. (Matthew 22:33-34)

So one of them (which was a lawyer) asked Jesus a question, tempting Him, and saying, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:35) We read a similar account of this conversation in Mark 12. Both accounts were intended to expand and rightly place the first commandment originally given to Moses in the old covenant. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"

And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is ONE Lord" and 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 neighbour as thyself." There is none other commandment greater than these."

And the scribe said unto Him, "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He, and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love His neighbour as Himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." And no man after that durst ask him any question. (Mark 12:28-34)

In the account of the same conversation in Matthew, Jesus adds, "On these two commandments hang ALL the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:40) 

There are several points worth noting here. First, the introduction to the cited scriptural passage in Mark states: "The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is ONE Lord." This is the exact same wording used in the old covenant side. "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is ONE Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4)

This is important for two reasons. The new testament serves as a confirmation of what was written and prophesied of in the old, and also, that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. (I Corinthians 14:33)

To further clarify this point, we read also, "And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee? But to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day, for thy good ...

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's -- thy God -- the earth [also] with all that therein [is]. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, [even] you above all people, as [it is] in this day." (Deuteronomy 10:14-15)

"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou may live." (Deuteronomy 30:6) 

Being no more stiff necked ... "for the Lord your God is a God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regards not persons, nor takes reward. He doth execute the judgement of the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger in giving him food and raiment ..." (Deuteronomy 10:16-18)

[In checking the use and meaning of the term terrible, it appears to be more accurately translated -- at least in our modern day language -- as "awesome"]

Note that for the same reason, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face saying to Daniel, "Of a truth [it is] that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret." (Daniel 2:47) 

In other words, when we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, He reveals Himself to us, gaining understanding. As we quickly learn, the exchange is not one way. There evolves a conversation whereby the Lord gives us the ability to reason with Him. To minister in our day to day, and to receive wisdom and knowledge and good counsel from the King of kings and Lord of lords.

For example, in the Garden, we know that Adam walked in the cool of the afternoon with the Lord, but all this was lost when Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree. As a consequence, there was a separation between God and man. And then because of man's continued transgressions soon came the law and commandments. As we know from earlier posts, the law was to serve as a schoolmaster to bring us back to our Lord God and Saviour. 

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith, but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:24-25)

Thus,  when we come to Jesus by faith in His finished work on the cross, He begins to reveal the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world. We begin to understand that God Almighty was revealed in the face of Jesus the Christ. And, that He Himself who knew no sin was made the express image of the invisible God, reconciling the world to Himself. (I Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-18; Matthew 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:1-13; Isaiah 9:6)

"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20)

In these last days, "God who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by [His] Son -- whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of [His] glory, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had purges our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:1-3)

We begin to understand more of this revelation when we read what Peter said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all), that Word [I say] ye know which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him ..." (Acts 10:34-38)

The Word that was in the beginning with God was God. (John 1:1-18) This same Jesus whom they/we crucified, is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

Thus, when we believe on the name of Jesus by faith with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and continue/abide in His Word, "a new heart also will [He] give you, and a new spirit will [He] put within you ... and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God." (Ezekiel 36:26-28)

There is so much more to this teaching so let the scripture herein serve as a starting point. Stand in the offering plate.