In Mark, Jesus was being questioned by both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Their purpose was to test the teacher, hoping to catch Jesus in some way that would support their thoughts: This teacher was a heretic, was perhaps inciting dissension, but was surely disrupting their world. They wanted to know the source of his authority, his views on taxation, his views on marriage and divorce. I doubt that they really cared one way or another about Jesus’ views, but his responses could provide them weapons again him. One of the temple scribes was hearing both group’s discussions about Jesus and the excellent responses that the Nazarene gave them. This scribe asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the first of all?”

In Jesus’ summary of the Law, he had further punctuated the answers already given to the Pharisees and Sadducees. “Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of G_d?” Jesus acknowledged that these leaders do sit in Moses’ seat, he urges his hearers to follow their teaching. He quickly points out, however, that some leaders do not follow their own teaching. Therefore, though they are to be listened to, they are not to be imitated.

The chief priests, elders, and scribes had spent their lives reading, studying, and interpreting the law given to Moses, the words of the prophets, history, and traditions of the Hebrews. They were the keepers of the Law, the teachers, and the recognized scholars of the One True G_d. They made the rules and interpreted G_d’s desire and intention for Israel. Jesus answered the scribe’s question and reduced all laws, rulings, teachings, edicts, and commandments into a dual act of love. The intention and desire of the Creator was love. Love of G_d was first doing this then required creation to love all humanity as an extension of self. No litany of other duties and obligations to the Divine were necessary when the two acts of love were attended; Everything would either be an extension of the love expressed in these two commandments or otherwise counter to love.

“Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our G_d, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your G_d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Christ followers are, “free from the law” but not free from the question that the law answers. How are we to live? What does G_d require? There are things which we must do, and things to avoid doing, in order to live a life which keeps us “not far from the kingdom of G_d.”

Pax,
jbt