We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 100, the first version of the psalm, the Scottish Psalter, page 362, the Tunis Duke Street.
Psalm 100, the first version, all people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice and say with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before a man rejoice, we'll stand to sing to God's praise.
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, him said with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before them and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed, where thy daily feet did us make.
We are his hope, he doth the seed, and for his sheep he doth us take.
Oh, enter then his gates with peace, approach with joy his courts unjewed.
Praise God and bless this name always.
Please, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if
O times firm he stood
and shall proclaim to his endew.
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord, our gracious God,
we come thankful for this day,
a day that you have given to us,
a day set aside for the great joy
and privilege and delight
of coming to worship you.
We thank you for these words
that we have sung together,
that we are joining in
with a multitude of people
who sing praise to you this day,
who come to worship you,
to hear your word,
your very voice speaking to us,
for you are one who,
your word is living and active,
as it says,
and we thank you
that there is such power
in your word
to help us in all our daily needs
and to remind us
that you are God
and there is no other.
And help us today
that we would come
to love the Lord
with all our heart
and to love our neighbour
as ourselves.
As we think of
who you are, Lord,
your greatness,
how great you are
as creator of heaven and earth,
and yet you're the one
who draws near to us,
the one who shepherds us.
And we thank you too,
Lord,
that you give us
people in our lives,
you give us people
around us,
friends and families
and neighbours
and colleagues
and even the strangers
around us, Lord.
We thank you
for the world
in which we live in,
for the billions of people
that there are in it,
and everyone is known to you.
And we pray, Lord,
that you would give
all people of this world
a sense of wonder
of who you are,
but also a sense of love
towards you.
But I ask, well, Lord,
that we would see
a people loving
their neighbours
as themselves,
that we would think
of places
where there are
such difficulties
and conflicts
and wars
and so many
terrible things happening.
We pray, Lord,
for your gospel,
the good news of God
to help in every situation.
So here is today, Lord,
look down upon us.
We thank you
for our young people.
We thank you
for a time of holiday
for the schools,
and we pray
that teachers
and pupils
and all the staff
would be refreshed
and encouraged
in this time.
May you bless
and watch over
all who come
and go over these weeks.
May you remember us
in the church here
as well as
the holiday tweenies
goes on
and the creche
goes on, Lord.
We thank you
for all who help
in these things
and for all who attend
and even today
that your spirit
will be upon us
to bless us.
Watch over us
then, we pray,
and continue with us.
It's all we ask.
We ask for the forgiveness
of our sin.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
It's good to see
the young ones out today.
I know it's a time
of holiday
and I hope you all
enjoy a good holiday,
a break from school.
Some of you
will be staying at home
over the holiday time.
Some will be going away.
But I think of holiday time
as a time
just to take our eyes
off the busyness
of what's happening
around us every day,
whether it's school work.
You maybe want to put
that away for a while.
But then you think to yourself,
well, what am I going to do?
What am I going to focus on?
It's not just going to be
sleep and eat, I hope.
I hope there's going to be
more than that.
I'm sure some of you
will be helping
just now with lambing time.
Some of you will be just
maybe out and about
doing different things.
And whether it's at home
or whether you're away,
keep your eyes out
for just different things
you might see
that you haven't seen before.
And with that in mind,
I think of just recently
I was in Edinburgh.
Hands up if you've ever
been to Edinburgh.
Anybody ever been to Edinburgh?
Yeah, there's a few hands
going up all right.
Who's been on the Royal Mile?
Anybody been on the Royal Mile?
Do you know where that is?
It's near the castle,
Edinburgh Castle.
The Royal Mile
goes up towards it.
It's that road.
Well, I was at the
free church offices,
which are just beside
the Royal Mile.
And we had meetings there.
And that's where I used
to go to college
when I was training
to be a minister as well.
And every day,
I would be walking up
and down the Royal Mile.
Not the whole mile,
but just a part of it
to get to the college.
And so when I was down
just now,
just recently,
I was thinking about
the number of times
I'd walked up and down.
And the many things
I hadn't even noticed before.
And a place I didn't often pass
when I was down in college,
but I passed this week,
was a place called
John Knox's House.
Now, anybody heard of
John Knox?
He was a very famous
Scottish minister
a very long time ago
in the 1500s.
And he was used by God
very powerfully in Scotland
for the church in Scotland.
And there was this house,
it's called
John Knox's House.
And I thought,
wow, that's interesting.
It looks a very old building.
And it is a very old building.
Apparently,
it was built in about 1470.
So that's more than
500 years ago.
He didn't always stay in it.
There was somebody else in it
before him.
And what was amazing
was on the outside
of the walls,
there was letters
in gold.
And I stopped
and I started to think,
I hadn't noticed that before.
What does it say?
Well, what it said was
to love God above all
and love your neighbour
as yourself.
And I thought,
wow, that's amazing.
Love God as yourself
and love your neighbour,
love God
and love your neighbour
as yourself.
There's a verse
from the Bible
in gold
on the side
of this house.
And it had been there
since it was built.
Now,
in Edinburgh
many years ago,
there was a fire
that destroyed
many of the buildings
around the Royal Mile.
But this one stood.
This one didn't get burnt down.
It stood
even in the midst of fire.
And there's God's word
still speaking to us.
And the Royal Mile
is called such
because
at the bottom
of the Royal Mile
is a palace,
Holyrood Palace.
And then on the top
of the hill
is Edinburgh Castle.
And between that,
the distance is a mile.
And it's called
a Royal Mile
because the royalty
would go from the palace
to the castle
and back and forth.
And I was thinking,
well, imagine
how many of these royals
and how many of the servants
and how many of the people
saw this verse?
Love God above all else
and your neighbour
as yourself.
A great reminder
to all of us
of what's important
in life.
And this is the text
we're going to be looking at
today in our service.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and your neighbour
as yourself.
It doesn't matter
if you're royalty,
it doesn't matter
if you're a servant,
it doesn't matter
who you are,
this is a great command
to us all today.
So keep your eyes peeled
as to what you might see.
Many buildings,
many old places,
they very often have
Bible verses
in there somewhere.
And this one spoke to me
that week
just saying,
love God
above all else
and love your neighbour
as yourself.
So may we be able
to do that.
Well,
we're going to say
the Lord's Prayer
together now.
Let's say the Lord's Prayer.
Our Father,
which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread
and forgive us
our debts
as we forgive
our debtors.
And lead us
not into temptation,
but deliver us
from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power
and the glory
forever.
Amen.
We'll again
sing to God's praise.
Now we're going to sing
in Psalm 92,
again in the Scottish
Psalter version.
Psalm 92,
page 352
of the psalm books.
We're going to sing
from verse 1
down to verse 6.
The tune is Paisley.
Psalm 92 at verse 1.
To render thanks
unto the Lord
it is a comely thing
unto thy name
o thou most high
due praise
allowed to sing.
We'll sing
from verse 1
to 6.
To God's praise
we stand to sing.
Amen.
To render thanks
unto the Lord
To desert the living
And to thy name, O the Lord,
To face the life to sing
Thy loving kindness to show forth
When shines the morning light
And to declare thy faithfulness
With pleasure every night
On a tempting instrument
Upon the solitary
And on the harvest
All ensign
And gifts with melody
For thy Lord, my mighty words
Has made my heart my cloud
And I will triumph in the words
Which by thy hands were made
How great Lord, thy words teach God
Of high and deep it is
And if thy thy name
Orthrophot
We can turn together to read God's words in the Gospel of Mark, in chapter 12.
We're going to take up our reading at verse 28, reading down to verse 40.
Mark, chapter 12, at verse 28.
In this passage we read there's a question that one of the scribes comes to Jesus with.
And what has been happening up to this point is that there have been a number of people coming with questions to Jesus, trying to catch him out.
You see at the end of chapter 11 at verse 27 there, the authority of Jesus was challenged.
They tried to catch him out on his authority.
And then in verse 13 of chapter 12, they've got a question about paying taxes to Caesar.
So they're trying to catch him out politically.
And then in verse 18, they ask about the resurrection.
They're trying to catch him out on a theological point.
So they're trying to catch Jesus out in all these different questions that they have.
But then there's a sense of change as you come into verse 28 with this question that's asked of Jesus.
And this is where we're going to focus our attention today.
So at verse 28 we read,
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another.
And seeing that he answered them well, asked him,
Which commandment is the most important of all?
Jesus answered,
The most important 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.
The second is this,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.
And the scribes said to him,
You are right, teacher.
You have truly said that he is one,
and there is no other besides him.
And to love him with all the heart,
and with all the understanding,
and with all the strength,
and to love one's neighbor as oneself,
is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely,
he said to him,
You are not far from the kingdom of God.
And after that,
no one dared to ask him any more questions.
And as Jesus taught in the temple,
he said,
How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
David himself,
in the Holy Spirit,
declared,
The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet.
David himself calls him Lord.
So how is he his son?
And the great throng heard him gladly.
And in his teaching,
he said,
Beware of the scribes
who like to walk around in long robes,
and like greetings in the marketplaces,
and have the best seats in the synagogues,
and the places of honor at feasts,
who devour widows' houses,
and for a pretense make long prayers.
They will receive the greater condemnation.
And so on.
And may God add his blessing
to that reading from his word.
Well, let's again engage in prayer.
We'll bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Our gracious God,
we do thank you for your word.
We thank you for the wonder
of how you continue to speak to us as a people,
that you show grace towards us
as undeserving sinners.
And yet, Lord,
you still desire that mercy upon us,
that we would come and know you
and love you with all our heart.
And we pray today, Lord,
that you would bless your word,
that you would bless it
not just in our hearing here,
or to those who listen in online at home,
or who at some point come to hear this service.
We pray, Lord,
that your word will be blessed
to all ends of the earth.
For we know that you have your people
to all ends.
You have your people near and far.
That you are one who is building his church.
And we thank you, Lord,
that your kingdom comes with power.
And even in the words that we've read,
we're reminded of that kingdom
and of how this scribe who came to Jesus
with a question was told,
you are not far from the kingdom of God.
And it can often be a case
where we feel close to your kingdom.
But sometimes it's so near and yet so far.
And we pray today, Lord,
that for those who hear your voice
and feel that there is still
that little distance to be overcome,
that you would help, Lord,
that by your spirit,
you would apply your words
to each one of us
to remind us of your kingdom
and the way to your kingdom.
That is to see that you have
first loved us
and given yourself for us.
And that we would then come
to love you with all our hearts.
So bless us, Lord,
around your word today.
And remember us as a people.
Remember us here
and remember your people
throughout all ends of the earth.
So we thank you, Lord,
for the power of prayer.
We thank you for the many prayers
that will be offered up to you today.
Not just here,
but through all your people
in so many different languages
and so many different places
and so many different circumstances.
We thank you that prayer is made to you.
And we pray, Lord,
that as the hearer of prayer,
that you would answer
and answer according to your will.
And we pray, Lord,
today just to see your kingdom
come in power,
to know that power of Christ
in our midst,
to know the power
of the resurrection,
to know the power of your word
and your spirit working.
And we pray, Lord,
that indeed there would be
much blessing and rejoicing
to all ends of the earth today.
May there be rejoicing
in one sinner who repents
and one who comes
to know you and to love you.
And we thank you, Lord,
for all the kingdom work
that you are doing.
We thank you, Lord,
for the way that you remind us
that you are building your church.
We think even of the Gambia partnership.
Thankful for the very generous collection
that was made
and for the blessing that that is.
It's not just to those
who work with the Gambia partnership,
but especially to those
who receive the Bibles,
whether they're written Bibles
or audio Bibles.
We thank you, Lord,
for the great ways
that your word goes out there.
We pray that it would be blessed.
We thank you for all belonging
to our congregation here.
And indeed, throughout our island,
many people have visited there
and seen the work going on
and been involved in it.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will bless each one
and encourage them in their hearts
and help us to have
that prayerful awareness
of your people there.
We thank too of Myanmar
and Thailand at this time
with the devastating earthquakes there.
Having recently heard
of the work of the gospel in Myanmar
and thankful for your people there,
we pray for all people there just now
in the midst of the devastation
that has been brought.
The loss of life
and those still missing.
And we just pray, Lord,
for your blessing over them,
your help towards them.
There and in Thailand as well, Lord,
we just pray for even good
to come out of even these circumstances
that people would recognize
their need of you
and recognize that you alone are God
who is able to help.
We think too of the ongoing conflicts
in the Middle East and the Ukraine
and the devastation that that brings.
And we just pray, Lord, for peace.
We pray, Lord, to see
your power at work in these places.
We pray to see that, Lord,
throughout our lands,
to give wisdom and help
to those who rule over us,
to give blessing to people
throughout our nations, Lord,
to see their great need of Jesus,
a Savior who has come into this world.
I mean, as we think of Easter time
and the way the gospel is heard
in different places
and in different ways,
we thank you that there is still
that heritage in our land
that we are a Christian nation.
And though we may have drifted
very far from it,
we thank you for the Christian influences
around us,
even the testimony of your word
and of your grace
down through the years.
We pray, Lord,
that in these days
you will have mercy upon us
and turn us again towards you.
Continue to bless us
as we worship you this day,
Lord, look after us
and all our loved ones
as we commit each other
into your hands.
Remember those who are away
at this time
and those who will be coming
and going over these weeks
of holiday, Lord.
Keep people safe and travel
and watch over each one.
Remember our community,
so, Lord,
we do pray for your help
towards us as a people
in all our different needs,
those who are unwell,
those who are anxious
and afraid of the future
and what changes might come
into our lives.
We think of those
who are maybe awaiting test results
or anxious about ill health,
Lord.
We pray for help towards them.
And especially at this time,
Lord,
as we have seen so many deaths
in our communities
in this past week
and even in this day
and in the days ahead
when there are so many funerals
to take place,
Lord,
we do remember
all who mourn
and grieve at this time,
asking for your comfort
and your blessing
over each one.
Especially remember
our undertakers
at this time
and what has been
a particularly busy period,
Lord.
We pray for them,
each one,
that you will bless them
in their hearts
and in their souls.
In the midst of
seeing so much grief
and sorrow,
Lord,
we pray that
you would minister
to their hearts
and into their lives.
We pray that
for all who feel
that voice of grief
at this time,
Lord,
that you will be near
to all such
and just pray
your blessing over them.
Hear our prayers,
Lord.
Continue with us
in this day
and throughout it,
Lord,
may we be able
to lift our eyes
to Jesus
and look on him,
the one who came
to die for our sins,
but the one
who is risen,
who is ascended,
who is at the right hand
of God our Father.
And we pray
in his name
all of these things
with the forgiveness
of our sins.
In his precious name,
Amen.
We're going to sing
to God's praise again
before we turn back
to look at this passage.
We're singing in Psalm 43
in the Sing Psalms.
Psalm 43,
we'll sing the whole
of this psalm together.
Page 54 of the psalm books,
the tune is Finart.
Come,
vindicate me,
O my God,
against this nation.
Plead my cause.
Deliver me
from wicked foes
and hypocrites
who break your laws.
And then at verse 3,
it says,
send your light forth
and your truth.
Let them direct me
in your grace
and bring me
to your holy hill
and to your sacred
dwelling place.
We'll sing
the whole of this psalm
to God's praise
and we stand to sing.
Amen.
Come,
vindicate me,
O my God,
against this nation.
Plead my cause.
Deliver me
from wicked foes
and hypocrites
who break your laws.
You are my stronghold
and my God.
Why then have you
rejected me?
Why must I go
about and leave
down to the
by the enemy?
O Savior,
I've forth
found your truth.
Let them direct me
and bring me
to your holy hill
into your sacred
dwelling place.
then to God's altar
I will go
to God my joy
and my delight
and I will place you
with the hand
O God you are
my Lord
O my
Why are you
I will cast
to my soul
Why are you
so
disturbed
in me
Trust God
for I
will
listen
yet
my
Savior
and
my
God
is
He
Amen
We can turn back to our reading in Mark chapter 12 and look at verse 28 in this section.
Where one of the scribes came and had heard him disputing with one another and seeing that he answered them well asked him,
which commandment is the most important of all?
That's the question that we see here.
And then we see Jesus answering the question.
The most important 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.
And the second is this,
you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
What's the best bit of advice you've ever been given?
It might be something that's just stuck with you all your days since you heard it being given to you.
Not the kind of advice that says,
Why are you doing it like that?
You should do it like this.
It's that kind of annoying bit of advice we can often get frustrated with,
but a bit of advice that's been given to you and you've thought,
I need to listen to that.
But did you listen?
Are you still listening to it?
It might have been a bit of advice about planning for the future,
maybe financially planning your future.
It might have been about what job to take or not to take as you were considering that.
Maybe it's advice you're sort of hearing just now.
If you're younger and you're thinking,
What am I to do going forward?
Am I going to go to university or college?
Am I going to go to work?
What should I do?
And there's all kinds of advice being offered to you.
In the midst of all this advice that's coming your way,
the trouble is what to listen to.
And do we listen to it?
Somebody once put it like this,
The trouble with good advice is that it usually interferes with your plans.
That's often the sense that we get good advice often interferes with your plans.
And when you think of the gospel and what Jesus says to us in the gospel,
it isn't just advice.
It's not just a bit of advice in the midst of what other people are offering to us.
Here is an option for us to listen to.
It's not advice.
Yes, it's commands.
And because it's commands,
we have to ask ourselves,
Are we listening to it?
And as Jesus was speaking to the scribes and the Pharisees,
as we're reading here,
they were hearing what he was saying,
and it was almost like they were taking it as advice.
Here is an option for you.
But what Jesus was saying,
it's not advice,
it's commands.
And are you listening to these commands?
And as we think of this setting of this passage before us,
it's in the midst of Jesus' final week before the crucifixion.
And if you like,
tensions are running high.
There are those who have seen and heard what Jesus was doing.
They've marveled at him,
and many have come to follow him.
But there are those also who have seen him as more of a threat,
someone that needs to be dealt with,
someone that needs to be got rid of.
And so there's this tension that's mounting.
And ultimately,
this tension is going to come to the point where Jesus is put onto the cross,
where he's crucified.
But before you come to that point,
you see that they're trying to catch him out.
They're determined to get something that they can hold against him.
And that's what I was pointing out before we read,
as you see at the end of chapter 11 and into chapter 12,
they're trying to catch him out on all these different things.
Whether it's his authority or political ways,
paying taxes to Caesar,
who are we to pay?
Or the resurrection and questions of theology.
They're trying to catch him out.
Trying to catch him so that they can put down on him.
But Jesus, as he answers all of these challenges,
he comes to say that you do not know the Scriptures.
You do not understand what the Word of God is saying.
If you did, you wouldn't be asking these questions in this way.
But then you come into verse 28.
And there's this encounter of Jesus here,
and one of the scribes who comes up to him.
And they've heard this debate that's going on.
And you sense there's just something different here.
There's something more to this encounter than just trying to trick Jesus or catch him out.
The question that we have here is more looking from the heart.
Not to catch him out, but almost coming pleading with a help me understand kind of attitude.
We're hearing what you're saying.
And maybe it isn't just advice that we can choose whether we follow or not.
Instead, is it a command that we are to obey?
That's what's at the heart of this question.
And it's an encounter with Jesus, with Jesus meeting this man.
And he's got this question, this burning question in his heart.
He wants to understand.
So how do you come to the Word of God today?
How do you come here today?
Or how do you come as you tune in online to come and hear the Word of God?
How are you approaching Jesus?
Is it to come and find fault with him?
To find something wrong with him?
To find a reason to turn away from him?
Or are you coming with that heart, seeking to understand?
With that longing to come and see for yourself,
Jesus, help me.
Help me to understand what this means for my life.
Well, Jesus, in the midst of this question that he's asked,
gives a wonderful answer that goes right to the heart.
It goes right to the heart of what it means to be saved.
It goes right to the heart of what it means to worship.
And so what Jesus says to this man and those who are hearing,
in his hearing there as well,
it is so much to say to us today.
Even just thinking of the context of Jesus here,
on his way to Jerusalem,
on his way to the cross,
to be crucified,
knowing what's ahead of him.
How we often see he has that heart for the people,
that longing,
that they would come to understand
all that he has come to do.
How he has come to show them such a great love,
and that they are to show him that love in return.
And we want to see three things
from this passage together this morning.
And the first thing we're going to look at
is the question that's asked.
And then secondly,
we're going to look at the question answered.
And then the third thing is
we're going to think of the question applied.
So the first thing we want to look at
is the question that's asked.
And where does this question come from?
Where does this question come from?
Which commandment is the most important of all
is the question.
Where does it come from?
Well, the first thing we notice
about the question asked
is the one who asks the question.
One of the scribes came up
and heard them disputing with one another
and seeing that he answered them well,
asked him.
So who is it that's asking this question?
It's one of the scribes,
one of the teachers of the law.
He was one of those who would have been
the group who were opposed to Jesus and his teaching.
They were looking and seeing him
almost as a threat to their authority,
to their position.
They were the ones who had the law.
They were the ones who told the people
what they should do and not do.
And so Jesus is a threat to them.
And yet with him,
with this scribe,
there seems to be something different.
He came up and heard them disputing with one another
and seeing that he answered them well.
What Jesus was saying,
it stood out to him.
It made an impact on him.
It started to open his mind
to something that he was hearing,
something different
and a different way for him to see things,
seeing that he answered them well.
And that's what being in the presence
of Jesus can do to you.
It can do to us all
as we come into the presence of Jesus.
We come to hear the word of God speaking to us.
It reminds us of all that God has done well.
All that God has done for us.
What he heard from Jesus impacted upon him.
And to this day,
that is what it does to people as well.
No matter how opposed people might be at first,
the word of God is powerful to speak.
And we always need to have that
in the back of our minds.
Whatever we're doing for the Lord,
whatever we're sharing the word of God,
the word of God is powerful to speak.
We think even of that encouragement
with the Gambia partnership
and the Bibles going out there,
audio Bibles, written Bibles.
That word is powerful to speak.
A minister recently was sharing
about a home Bible study group
that we're meeting through his church.
Different parts of a city they were meeting.
And in one group,
a woman had come in who was an atheist.
She didn't believe in God at all.
And yet someone had spoken to her
and told her about this group that was meeting
and invited her along.
Probably maybe wondering,
I wonder, will she come?
After all, she's an atheist.
What interest would she have
in the things of God?
And yet she did.
She came along to this group.
Came along one week and listened.
And then she was back the next time as well.
She began to enjoy hearing about the word of God,
hearing about Jesus,
and beginning to question atheism.
Is there a God?
Could this God be real?
Is this word speaking to me
in a more powerful,
in a more meaningful way?
And that's the power
that God's word has.
That's what we see with this scribe
who came to ask this question.
He came having seen something in Jesus,
how he answered well
in all the disputes
that they had been having.
And so the second thing we see
about this man,
the question being asked,
is that what he heard
was good.
And you see that
in how he sees Jesus
and he answered them well.
It wasn't just a clever answer
that Jesus was given.
It means more than that.
But he answered them well.
There was something more powerful
about what Jesus was saying
compared to anything else
that he was hearing.
This word was full.
What Jesus was saying
had no comeback.
We see that
and how in all these different ways
he'd been asking questions.
You see at the end of this section
in verse 34,
it says,
after that no one dared
to ask him any more questions.
What Jesus was saying
was complete.
It was good.
It was full.
There was no way
of coming back against it.
And that's what we can take
for ourselves as well
of the word of God.
It gives answers to us
that are complete and full.
Even the most searching questions
that we might have.
You have to give
the word of God a chance.
So many people just dismiss
God's word.
They don't want to hear.
They think they know
the answers.
But if you're truly wondering,
what does the word of God say?
Well, give it a chance.
Have you given the word of God
a chance to speak
into your heart,
into your situation?
Or have you just pushed it away
thinking you know
the answer already?
You think to yourself,
what questions do I have
that the Bible can answer?
Well, come and see
the wonderful range of answers
that the Bible gives to us
about life,
about death,
about eternity,
about all the big issues
in life.
We find the word of God
speaks into every one of them.
It speaks truth.
It speaks well.
It speaks good.
It speaks in a way
that we have no way
of coming back against it.
You almost might come
to the point
where you dare ask
no more questions
if you're against it
because you're afraid
the answers might be given
to you.
If you could ask
one thing of the Lord,
what would it be?
What question would you
want to come and ask
the Lord?
Well, come with it.
Give the word of God
a chance to answer
those questions.
That's what this scribe does.
He has this question
that he wants to ask.
And the third thing
we see about the question
being asked,
it's a personal question.
It's something that's
very much weighing
heavy upon him.
Probably a question
he's maybe been
mulling over
in his own mind
long before he's heard
Jesus talking
at this point.
Wondering,
is this really the way
we should be living?
You see,
the question is so personal.
Which commandment
is the most important
of all?
Why is he asking that?
Why is he asking about
which commandment
is the most important
of all?
Well, because
as a scribe
he was so used to
having hundreds
of laws,
hundreds of commandments
that he taught
the people
that this is how
you are to live.
There was more than
600 laws
or commands
that the people
had to live by.
And there was
always discussion,
always debate
going on about
which were the most
important.
Some were of a
positive nature,
some of a negative
nature.
And then they were
divided into groups
of the heavy
and the light
commands.
And so they were
weighing down,
there was a heavy
burden on the people.
They couldn't agree
amongst themselves
which were the
most important
ones.
And so that's
what's behind
this question.
Which is the most,
which commandment
is the most
important
of all?
Of all the
hundreds
of commands
that we have,
which is the
most important
of all?
Which one
can we focus
on?
They loved
to debate.
debate.
They loved
to discuss
all these
different commands
but so often
they were just
weighing heavy.
And that's
often the case
with ourselves
as well.
The questions
we have
are ones
we might love
to debate
back and forth
and discuss
in different ways
but we have
to come to the
point and ask
ourselves
but which is
the most
important question?
What's the
most important
thing that we
have to focus
on?
What am I
to do?
That's what's
behind the
question that's
asked.
Which is the
most important
commandment?
Well we see
the answer
then is given.
It's the second
thing we see
the question
answered in
verse 29.
Jesus answered
the most
important 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 with
all your
strength.
And the
second is
this you
shall love
your neighbour
as yourself.
As well as
a good
question there
is a great
answer.
There is a
wonderful
answer given
and as is
often the
case with
Jesus he
doesn't bring
them something
new something
that they
might find
hard to
understand.
Instead he
reiterates
what's at
the heart
of the
gospel.
What's at
the heart
of what
they already
know from
the Old
Testament.
And what
he does
here is
bring them
right back
to the
very
teachings
that they
have
themselves.
In that
version 29
where it
says hear
O Israel
the Lord
our God
the Lord
is one.
That's a
prayer that
the Jews
had from
the Old
Testament
days.
Still have
to this
day.
It's called
the Shema.
And it's
a declaration
they make
every day
morning and
evening.
Those words
hear O
Israel the
Lord our
God the
Lord is
one.
It's a
declaration
there is
only one
God.
And it
goes right
back to
Deuteronomy
chapter 6
hear O
Israel the
Lord our
God the
Lord is
one.
Love the
Lord your
God with
all your
heart with
all your
soul with
all your
strength.
these
commandments
that I
give to
you today
are to
be upon
your
heart.
So he
takes them
right back
to the
scriptures of
the Old
Testament and
there it
is this
prayer that
they already
knew.
Hear O
Israel the
Lord your
God the
Lord is
one.
You see
in the
midst of
asking all
our questions
in life
what do I
need to
do?
Where do I
need to
go?
How can
I find
this hope
this salvation
that Jesus
offers?
It's in
his truth.
It's in
his word.
It is here
before us.
And what
Jesus does
is he sums
up for them
here this
command.
He says
basically come
back to
this because
this is the
heart of our
relationship
with God.
It's not
about the
weighing down
of law.
It's not
about the
weighing down
of trying to
keep the
hundreds of
laws that
are before
you in
order to
be right
with God.
That's
not what
it's about.
It's not
about sacrifices.
It's not
about rewards.
It's not
about any
of these
things.
It's about
love the
Lord your
God with
all your
heart.
And love
your neighbor
as yourself.
love.
You wonder
what impact
this had
on not
just on
the scribe
but on
those around.
The same
impact as
the word of
God so
often does.
Some would
listen and
some would
put it
away.
But what
Jesus is
saying to
him here
is love
is at the
heart of
it.
Love here
as you
see in
English
the word
love is
just one
word.
But when
you look
at it
in the
text
itself
in the
original
language
it's
agape
love
that we
have
here
which
is
a
love
associated
with
God
himself.
And this
is a
love that
he has
shown to
us
that is
behind
it all
because
we can
only
love
when we
see
he
first
loved
us.
And so
he's
telling us
that this
love is
a costly
love.
Just as
his love
has been
a sacrifice
that was
made.
So
our love
is to
have that
sacrifice
as well.
The
advice
the
commands
that
interfere
with
our
plans
that
is
the
ones
that
we
are
to
listen
to.
And
because
they
disrupt
our
plans
or
interfere
our
plans
it
means
there
are
things
we
have
to
leave
behind.
Attitudes
we
have
to
change.
Things
we
have
to
put
away
and
listen
instead
to
the
word
of
God.
So
you
have
this
love
that
he
speaks
of
here
and
he
says
there
is
no
other
command
greater
than
these
love
the
Lord
your
God
with
all
your
heart
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself.
God
So
as
you
hear
this
question
it
would
ask
of
them
it
asks
of
us
do
I
love
the
Lord
with
all
my
heart
do
I
love
my
neighbor
as
myself
Jesus
is
here
stripping
away
every
layer
as he
is
getting
to
their
heart
stripping
away
all
the
laws
that
they
have
tried
to
keep
all
the
things
that
they
have
tried
to
do
themselves
and
he
is
getting
to
the
core
he
is
getting
to
the
center
of
it
all
and
saying
do
you
love
the
Lord
do
you
think
your
heart
is
right
today
with
God
or
have
the
years
sort
of
put
layers
on
top
of
your
heart
where
you
think
but
I'm
a
good
person
I'm
doing
well
!
things
are
going
!
well
the
Lord
kind
of
just
strips
all
these
layers
back
think
of
it
in
this
way
you've
got
a
wooden
bench
in
the
garden
it's
been
there
maybe
20
years
and
every
year
you've
painted
it
with
a
gloss
paint
and
just
each
year
put
a
new
coat
on
top
and
you
think
to
yourself
this
bench
is
fine
this
bench
is
good
it's
lasted
for
years
but
you're
getting
to
the
stage
now
you're
thinking
well
it's
so
many
coats
of
paint
now
I
better
strip
it
right
back
to
the
wood
and
just
start
with
a
fresh
coat
again
but
to
your
horror
when
you
strip
back
all
the
layers
of
paint
you
find
the
wood
underneath
is
starting
to
rot
all
that's
been
holding
it
together
has
been
the
paint
all
these
layers
of
paint
they've
hidden
what's
at
the
core
of
it
and
so
you
need
to
take
action
well
in
many
ways
that's
what
the
word
of
God
does
with
our
hearts
as
well
you
think
I've
been
going
to
church
I've
been
saying
my
prayer
I've
been
reading
God's
word
all
these
layers
are
building
up
in
your
heart
and
you
think
everything's
fine
but
behind
all
that
when
you
strip
back
is
the
core
and
the
core
is
the
heart
with
all
your
soul
with
all
your
mind
with
all
your
strength
and
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
as
all
the
strips
are
taken
away
it
asks
do
we
do
we
love
the
Lord
in
that
way
because
that's
what
is
key
here
the
question
answered
takes
away
from
all
the
burdens
of
the
law
that
they
were
under
and
just
shows
them
the
wonder
of
the
grace
of
God
that
is
love
to
us
that
demands
that
we
love
him
with
all
our
heart
well
the
final
thing
we
see
here
is
the
question
applied
Jesus
says
there
is
no
other
commandment
greater
than
these
and
then
verse
32
it
says
the
scribe
said
to
him
you
are
right
teacher
you
have
truly
said
that
he
is
one
and
there
is
no
other
besides
him
and
to
love
him
with
all
the
heart
with
all
the
understanding
with
all
the
strength
and
to
love
one's
neighbor
as
oneself
is
much
more
than
all
whole
burnt
offerings
and
sacrifices
you see
here
the
man
is
hearing
this
and
he's
beginning
to
recognize
he says
you're
right
this
moment
of
dawning
you're
right
the
word of
God
is
right
you have
truly
said
he says
there
you have
said
well
you have
given
almost the
word is
beautiful
you've
given such
a beautiful
answer
that is
one
God
and to
love him
perfectly
and to
love others
perfectly
is more
important than
all the
laws we've
been under
this man
had come
to understand
truth
the truth
of God's
word
the truth
of who
God
is
did he
believe
well
Jesus
says
to him
here
you are
not
far
from
the
kingdom
of
God
Jesus
is
seeing
in
that
there's
something
working
here
but
it
says
you
are
not
far
from
the
kingdom
of
God
he's
saying
you
are
close
but
you're
not
quite
there
is
that
you
today
where
the
Lord
is
speaking
to
you
in
this
way
he's
saying
you're
not
far
from
the
kingdom
of
God
what's
missing
maybe
you
think
there's
nothing
really
missing
maybe
you
think
I'm
a
good
person
I'm
beginning
to
see
that
this
is
truth
but
Jesus
says
here
there's
something
still
missing
with
this
man
you're
not
far
from
the
kingdom
of
God
it's
a
reminder
to
us
that
it's
possible
to
be
a
good
person
to
have
a
good
religious
upbringing
and
still
be
lost
it's
possible
to
know
the
truth
and
still
be
lost
it's
possible
to
hear
the
gospel
preached
all
your
life
and
still
be
lost
somebody
else
it's
possible
to
be
within
an
inch
of
heaven
and
still
go
to
hell
close
is
not
enough
not
far
from
the
kingdom
of
God
is
not
enough
is
this
advice
that we
choose
or not
well
Jesus
has
reminded
him
this
is a
command
you're
not
far
from
the
kingdom
of
God
but
he's
saying
now
almost
go
and
do
these
things
go
and
live
in
this
way
love
the
Lord
your
God
with
all
your
heart
with
all
your
soul
with
all
your
mind
and
with
all
your
strength
and
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
and
they
you
will
fulfill
the
commands
of
God
believe
in
him
what's
the best
advice
the
scribe
was
given
well
surely
it was
this
command
to
do
these
things
and
what's
the
best
advice
for
you
today
it's
to
see
this
is
not
just
advice
this
is
a
command
do
this
and
live
that's
what
the
word
of
God
says
do
this
and
live
believe
in
him
this
scribe
had
to
deal
with
this
question
here
and
then
and
today
you
have
to
deal
with
this
question
too
do
you
love
the
Lord
your
God
with
all
your
heart
do
you
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
because
it's
dangerous
to
delay
and
put
this
away
Jesus
came
to
deal
with
sin
that's
what we
come
to
see
as
you
look
at
the
gospel
and
all
these
commands
that
he
is
giving
it
was
leading
up
to
the
cross
and
giving
his
life
for
his
people
that
they
might
live
so
we
need
to
listen
the
question
is
will
you
will
you
listen
to
this
command
today
love
the
Lord
your
God
with
all
your
heart
and
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
let
us
hear
the
word
of
God
and
do
let
us
pray
our
father
in
heaven
we
do
thank
you
for
the
commands
that
your
word
gives
to
us
and
the
things
that
we
so
often
struggle
with
ourselves
we
know
Lord
the
frailties
of our
hearts
and
the
more
you
reveal
them
to
us
Lord
the
more
we
see
that
there
is
nothing
good
in
us
but
we
thank
you
Lord
for
your
grace
that
is
able
to
save
and
the
way
that
you
are
able
to
take
our
hearts
and
transform
them
from
the
hard
hearts
that
we
so
often
see
to
the
hearts
that
burn
within
us
with
a
love
for
you
and
so
we
pray
!
we'll
conclude
by singing
to God's
praise
in
Psalm
52
to sing
Psalm's
version
Psalm
52
page
69
of the
psalm
books
going
to sing
verses
8
and
9
and
the
tune
his
brother
James
is
heir
Psalm
52
at
verse
8
but
I
am
like
an
olive
plant
in
God's
house
growing
free
I
trust
in
God's
unfailing
love
to
all
eternity
we'll
sing
these
two
verses
to
God's
praise
but
I
am
like
an
olive
plant
in
God's
growing
free
I
trust
in
God's
unfailing
love
to
all
eternity
I
trust
in
God's
unfailing
love
to
all
eternity
I'll
praise
you
ever
for
your
deeds
my
hope
is
in
your
name
and
in
the
presence
of
your
saints
I
will
extol
your
faith
and
in
the
presence
of
your
saints
I
will
extol
your
faith
after
the
benediction
I'll
go to
the
main
door
we'll
close
the
benediction
now may
grace
mercy
and peace
from
God
Father
Son
and
Holy
Spirit
rest
upon
and abide
with you
all
now
and
forever
more
Amen
voy
!
voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy
!
voy voy
!
voy voy voy
!
Thank you.