WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 Let's just bow our heads in prayer. 00:00:03.140 --> 00:00:12.040 Father, Jesus has said that we are to love you with all our soul, all our heart, all 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:13.439 our mind, and all our strength. 00:00:14.419 --> 00:00:18.379 And Father, we acknowledge that we cannot do this in and of our own power. 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:25.140 So we ask, Father, that you would bring these words of Jesus deeply into who we are, that 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:31.880 they might rule in our hearts to the end, that we will love Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:37.640 three persons, one God, that we will love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, 00:00:37.700 --> 00:00:39.620 and that we will love our neighbors as ourselves. 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.460 So Father, we ask that you would gently but powerfully do this mighty work within us. 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:46.820 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:47.620 Amen. 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:49.140 Please be seated. 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:57.899 So some of you who are familiar with Anglican worship, when you heard me read the text of 00:00:57.899 --> 00:01:03.200 Scripture, you knew that it was something which, that most Sundays we say that text. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:06.579 In fact, you might not have really known exactly where it came in the Bible, but now you know 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:07.480 it comes from Mark. 00:01:08.019 --> 00:01:11.200 And it's a common place in Anglican worship to say it. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:17.460 In fact, one of the problems with it is that because it's a common place, we might not really 00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:25.119 sort of realize how, actually, how offensive it would be to many people in our culture if 00:01:25.119 --> 00:01:25.939 they were to hear it. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:31.099 And the other thing is not just how offensive it would be, but actually if you sort of just, 00:01:31.539 --> 00:01:37.759 you know, take a moment to step back from people being bothered by it, it's actually very helpful 00:01:37.759 --> 00:01:44.199 and wise because our culture is a bit, its understanding of love is complicated. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:46.419 It seems simple, but it's complicated. 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:53.980 I'll give you two illustrations to help us think about the text, sort of ground our thinking 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:54.599 about the text. 00:01:54.680 --> 00:02:00.719 A few years ago, I was involved in a discipline issue, not connected with this church, but 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:01.659 with another church. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:11.519 And after the discipline issue and the ongoing consequences from it, I got different phone 00:02:11.519 --> 00:02:18.659 calls and emails from leaders and family members to say that the person involved in the particular 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:28.500 issue had suffered enough that they'd had an active healing and they were sorry. 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:33.680 And what was now happening was not loving. 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:44.000 And I had to use, I should use my influence to show love and to help these people show love. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:52.080 Now, what I've left out in the telling of this particular story is that the discipline issue involved the pedophile. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:03:08.980 And I had a role in unmasking the pedophile and initially confronting him that his secret was known and that we knew that he had in fact been guilty of sexual touching and other types of things of young girls. 00:03:08.979 --> 00:03:24.359 And what had happened was that the person involved, the man involved, had claimed that now he'd been healed, that he was very penitent, that he had been healed. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:30.620 And four of the victims, four of his victims had pressed charges against him. 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:48.360 And so that's what led the pastor of the church and other Christian leaders and family members to ask me to use my influence to talk the four women out of pressing charges because they'd suffered enough. 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:53.240 And if I didn't do that, I was being unloving. 00:03:55.880 --> 00:04:13.440 Now, this is a, this is actually a, this is a more relevant, I mean, I think it's a very relevant story to this text because in our culture, part of the thing which is a bit complicated in our culture is on one hand, we're told that love is love and that we are to love unconditionally. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:30.459 But on the other hand, we also know that there's a large part of our culture that's involved, especially in matters to do with racism and other types of things, that if you say, no, no, no, love is love, or you need to love unconditionally, then that's actually viewed as being a violation of justice. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:36.279 That you're not supposed to, in a sense, love in this particular case. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:49.779 And the people involved in trying to pressure me in this particular case, all of the, all of them, I mean, you might, as soon as I say that now, you all would say, George, you did, because in fact, I didn't back down. 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:55.819 I supported the, the women in pressing charges against the, the men, that I did the right thing. 00:04:55.819 --> 00:05:02.199 But in our culture, and for them, I, that would have been viewed that I was, that I wasn't loving. 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:06.860 So there's a bit of a, a problem in how we think about love and justice. 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:16.259 I don't know if it's as much a case in compassion, I haven't heard about it, but it probably is a case because it's been a constant critique of Samaritan's Purse and the Christmas shoeboxes. 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:24.639 That to encourage things like compassion or shoeboxes is a violation of justice. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:31.819 So we shouldn't just be pre-giving money to children like this, or Christian, you know, we shouldn't be giving money to children like this. 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:38.959 We should be instead combating the structural problems and injustices that lead to there being poverty. 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:44.939 So this is not a completely abstract issue, especially on a Sunday like this. 00:05:44.939 --> 00:06:11.579 There's another sort of similar type of issue is that the, the slogan, love is love, and the demand of us to love unconditionally isn't really very easy at dealing with the problems of sentimentality, like mere emotion, and with, well, with self-centeredness and selfishness. 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:14.919 I'll give you a particular thing. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:26.579 One of the things that I would be required to do is if there was a man who came to me and he wanted to be, he comes with his, his young, his fiancee, and he wants me to do the marriage. 00:06:26.579 --> 00:06:31.199 And I would ask him a little bit about other marriages and stuff like that. 00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:44.019 And if I found out that, in fact, he had, in fact, been married for some 15 years, that he was, had three children from that previous marriage, that he'd now come to an end, 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:49.240 and that he wants to marry this woman who's considerably younger. 00:06:50.359 --> 00:06:57.479 And, well, I, I'd have to not love him. 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:03.500 I couldn't just accept that love is love, and I couldn't accept that I should just love him unconditionally. 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:09.740 I'd have to ask him some very, very hard questions. 00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:14.899 They'd be questions that would leave me sleepless the couple of days leading up to it. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:25.939 But I'd have to ask him, how does he plan to maintain his financial obligations to his first wife, and in particular to the three children? 00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:55.920 And I'd have to ask him, how does he plan to maintain his family? 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:56.960 Why he left his wife? 00:07:57.860 --> 00:07:58.699 Love is love. 00:08:01.020 --> 00:08:08.520 Well, that's just, that doesn't really help at all with self-centeredness, and that's just a sentimental statement. 00:08:09.580 --> 00:08:14.379 And if he was to say, well, you know, you're not loving me unconditionally if you ask those types of questions. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.300 I'm offended. 00:08:16.900 --> 00:08:24.379 Don't you all think I would have to press into that claim that I'm loving him, not loving him unconditionally? 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:26.079 In fact, I'm not loving him unconditionally. 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:27.100 He's correct. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:33.779 If he wants to do what he wants to do, and I challenge him, I'm not loving him unconditionally. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.519 So the question is, am I unloving? 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:38.320 Am I acting in an unloving way? 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.320 Am I acting in an unloving way? 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:40.920 Am I acting in an unloving way? 00:08:40.920 --> 00:08:47.520 So in light of that, let's look at the text, hopefully briefly, and sort of listen to the words of Jesus. 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:56.540 It helps us to overcome something that at first glance, I mean, we don't really notice it maybe, but at first glance, it's something offensive to a lot of Canadians. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:09:02.759 But the part that's offensive is actually deeply important and wise if we want to be able to love. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.639 And here's how it goes. 00:09:05.819 --> 00:09:08.599 So it's Mark chapter 12, verses 28 and following. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:11.199 Mark 12, 28 and following. 00:09:11.719 --> 00:09:14.899 And if you're using these little booklets, it's on page 76. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:26.740 And the context of this is that Jesus has had a series of sort of gotcha types of aggressive questions by members of the elite. 00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:34.799 And after a series of aggressive gotcha type questions, which don't work, this fellow has been listening. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:39.220 And now we actually see somebody asking Jesus an honest question. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:40.319 Like he's just curious. 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:41.879 He'd like to know the answer. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:45.639 It's a non-aggressive, non-gotcha question. 00:09:45.779 --> 00:09:46.539 And here's how it goes. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.240 Verse 28. 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:54.320 And one of the scribes came up and heard them, that's the different arguments, and heard them disputing with one another. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:10:00.159 And seeing that Jesus answered them well, asked them which commandment is the most important of all. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:06.700 Now just to pause here for a second to remind you, a scribe, what on earth is that? 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:09.759 When you think of this, when you see the word scribe in the New Testament, 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:16.899 think of somebody who sort of is like in our culture would be a lawyer and a public intellectual, 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:24.580 and also someone, imagine somebody high up in the Privy Council, or just high up in the civil service, 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:30.360 maybe an assistant deputy minister or something like that, who has a basic sense about how the system works. 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:37.399 And so when you see the word scribe, think assistant deputy minister, public intellectual, and lawyer, 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:40.480 sort of all move together into one. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:47.100 Somebody who knows how the system works, can speak into public matters, and is a bit of a legal expert. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:50.279 So that's who's speaking to Jesus, and he asks them this question, 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:53.500 which commandment is the most important of all? 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:55.340 It's an honest question. 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:55.960 Verse 29. 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:58.180 How does Jesus answer the question? 00:10:59.560 --> 00:11:06.280 Now actually, just before I read the answer, if you just pause for a second and think of it from a world perspective, 00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:07.840 the answer is not obvious. 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:14.320 Like, if you were to ask people, if you were to do a bit of a survey, 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:18.259 and ask people, what do you think the most important moral command is? 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:23.039 I know one guy, not making this up. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:27.879 He said, love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe. 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:33.179 Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe. 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:35.279 Look out for number one. 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:38.700 I mean, many people wouldn't come right out and say it bluntly, 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:42.679 but that would in fact be the moral command by which they organize everything else. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:44.039 Always look out for number one. 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:47.139 And by the way, when I look in a mirror, I'm scene number one. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:51.759 For many people in the world, like our friend, we have friends here from other culture. 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:56.319 For many places in the world, the main moral command that people would say is, 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:59.139 do not shame your family. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:02.939 That is the prime moral command. 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:05.100 Do not ever shame your family. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:12.799 For others, the main command would be, don't let others have power over you. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:19.000 If you think about it for a second, there's not an obvious answer to this question 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.759 as to which moral command is the most important moral command. 00:12:22.859 --> 00:12:24.159 So how does Jesus answer it? 00:12:24.819 --> 00:12:28.979 Well, he answers it in a way which, at first, is going to be offensive to us, 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:33.899 but actually, if we think about it more, is profoundly wise and helpful. 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:35.079 Verse 29. 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:36.600 Jesus answered, 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:38.459 The most important is, 00:12:38.459 --> 00:12:42.279 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 00:12:43.079 --> 00:12:46.899 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:49.740 with all your mind, and with all your strength. 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:51.379 And the second is this, 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:53.559 You shall love your neighbors yourself. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.899 There is no other commandment greater than these. 00:12:57.899 --> 00:13:06.199 Now, what Jesus does here is he actually quotes from a text in the book of what we now know of as Deuteronomy 00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:08.419 and a book that we now know of as Leviticus. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:11.980 And it's a very small little side point, 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:14.340 but I think it's a really important one to notice. 00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:18.199 He doesn't quote, in terms of what's the greatest moral command, 00:13:18.959 --> 00:13:21.879 he doesn't quote something from the surrounding culture. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.299 He doesn't quote Plato. 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.659 He doesn't quote Aristotle. 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:26.340 He doesn't quote the Stoics. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:29.019 He quotes the Bible. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.720 Believe it or not, 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.460 Augustine, 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:37.540 1600 years ago, 00:13:38.280 --> 00:13:40.200 over 1600 years ago, 00:13:40.280 --> 00:13:42.600 he wrote a book called On Christian Doctrine. 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:45.000 But it's actually not a book about Christian doctrine. 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:47.139 It's a book about how to interpret the Bible. 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:50.800 And there, he tells you something. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.060 When he's telling you this, 00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:54.379 over 1600 years ago, 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.800 he's not sharing anything new. 00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:59.339 He's basically sharing what people have known for a long time, 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.859 how to interpret the Bible. 00:14:00.939 --> 00:14:04.879 And one of the keys that has always been the case for Christians about how to interpret the Bible 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.639 is that the Bible interprets the Bible. 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:11.059 The Bible interprets the Bible. 00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:12.740 That you don't go to Freud. 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.719 You don't go to Jung. 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:15.180 You don't go to Jordan Peterson. 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:19.360 You don't go to critical race theorists. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.759 You go to the Bible to interpret the Bible. 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:25.160 And we see that's what Jesus does. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:27.180 To interpret all of the moral commands, 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.220 he goes to the Bible. 00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:30.560 And he says, 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:33.059 these two particular Bible texts, 00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:34.899 these particular moral commands, 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:36.259 this is the way. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.539 These are the greatest commands. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.819 These are the organizing commands, 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.619 so to speak. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:44.479 And the other thing about it is, 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:46.579 and it's not, 00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:50.839 the reason it's not translated this way, 00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:52.599 like the translation's fine, 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.580 but it misses something which is in the original language, 00:14:55.980 --> 00:15:00.240 which can't really be translated grammatically well into English. 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:01.860 And if you see, 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.240 look at verse 30 again, 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.680 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.040 with all your soul, 00:15:08.180 --> 00:15:09.139 with all your mind, 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.240 and with all your strength. 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:14.600 You can misinterpret it and think it's instrumental language, 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.860 but it's not instrumental language. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.879 It's source language. 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.879 In other words, 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.120 what it's saying is that out of all of my heart, 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.439 flowing from my heart, 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:30.379 all of my heart, 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:33.740 I am to love the Lord my God. 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.700 Out of all of my strength, 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.539 flowing out of my strength, 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:39.000 I am to love the Lord my God. 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.120 Out of all of my mind, 00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:43.419 out of all of my soul, 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:43.779 heart, 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.220 out of. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.940 The very center, 00:15:47.940 --> 00:15:50.179 and by using these four languages, 00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:52.059 it's saying out of us. 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.819 And it's a very, 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:55.659 very hard thing for us in our culture 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:58.179 to even think about how you love with your mind. 00:15:58.319 --> 00:16:00.599 Like it actually sounds like the lead up of a joke 00:16:00.599 --> 00:16:01.799 in a comedy special 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.299 to talk about loving with our mind. 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:06.179 But that's what Jesus is saying here. 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.919 And so in a sense, 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.539 because it's trying to capture all of us, 00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:11.919 it's also saying that out with all of my money, 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.639 with all of my looks, 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.779 with all of my job, 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:18.620 with all of my family, 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.000 with all of my possessions, 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.799 with all of my sexuality, 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:23.360 with all of my time, 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.319 with all that who I am, 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.500 that out of all of this, 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:28.339 I am to love the Lord my God, 00:16:28.819 --> 00:16:29.919 that this is in fact 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.159 the first and great commandment. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:33.319 Now, 00:16:33.959 --> 00:16:36.279 do you see the controversial bit 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.159 about all of this? 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.500 If you don't, 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:39.899 I'm going to circle back to it. 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:43.019 Because the fellow's response to Jesus 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:45.219 helps us to be clearer 00:16:45.219 --> 00:16:47.860 about what it is that Jesus has just said. 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.000 Look at verse 32. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:51.980 And the scribe said to Jesus, 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:54.199 you are right, teacher. 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.939 Actually, that should be rabbi. 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.699 You are right, rabbi. 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:00.079 It's easy for us to forget 00:17:00.079 --> 00:17:01.519 that Jesus was Jewish. 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.519 You are right, rabbi. 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.759 You have truly said 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.920 that he, that is God, 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.599 is one. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.200 And there is no other besides him. 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.579 And to love him, 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.339 verse 33, 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.500 with all the heart 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.740 and with all the understanding, 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.700 with all the strength, 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.180 and to love one's neighbor 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.559 as oneself 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.680 is much more, 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:23.119 is much more 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:25.220 than all whole burnt offerings 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.140 and sacrifices. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.440 And when Jesus saw 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.740 that he had answered wisely, 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:30.980 he said to the scribe, 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.799 you are not far 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.960 from the kingdom of God. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.860 And after that, 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.900 no one dared to ask him 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.720 any more questions. 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.960 So what's the presenting problem 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.279 with how Jesus answered it? 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.759 I think if I was to be sharing 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.660 this text with a group 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.559 of non-Christians, 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.640 the thing that would jump out 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.019 at them, 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.539 which they notice, 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.600 but we don't notice it 00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.500 because we just say it 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.160 all the time, 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.620 is, 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:54.519 George, 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.220 are you saying that only 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:56.360 Christians can be moral? 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:58.620 I mean, 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.600 that's what Jesus says, 00:17:59.640 --> 00:17:59.980 isn't it? 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:02.319 Look at verse 29. 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:03.960 You know, 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:05.440 what of all the moral commands, 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.220 what's the most important 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.019 moral command? 00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:09.720 Hear, O Israel, 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.599 the Lord our God, 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.440 the Lord is one. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.400 You shall love the Lord your God 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.079 with all your heart, 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:14.680 with all your soul, 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.319 with all your mind, 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.099 with all your strength. 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:16.420 I mean, 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.559 that's offensive. 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:18.299 Like, 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.860 Muslims don't agree with that. 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.799 Hindus don't agree with that. 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.160 Buddhists don't agree with that. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:23.900 In fact, 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.259 actually, 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.700 at the time that Jesus said that, 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.279 other than Jewish people, 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.960 no non-Jewish person 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.799 would have agreed with that. 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.039 The Romans and the Greeks, 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.680 the pagans, 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.379 they would have all said, 00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:32.779 what do you mean? 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.099 To be moral, 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.059 I have to believe in this one God, 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:40.379 that he's the only God that exists, 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.099 to be moral? 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:46.259 See, 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:46.960 in our day and age, 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.359 of course, 00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:49.359 we think that these things 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.159 are very separate, 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.759 that you have your views 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.919 of whether God exists, 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.960 and then you have your views 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.539 on morality, 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.419 and you have your views 00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:56.059 on justice, 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.960 and you have your views 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.500 on love, 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.599 and these are all 00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:58.900 very, 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.200 very separate things. 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:02.960 And yet, 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.960 Jesus says 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.900 that this is the most important 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.720 of the commandments, 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:08.160 and the second is like it, 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.240 that you love your neighbor 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.920 as yourself. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:11.980 So, 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.980 is Jesus saying 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.779 that only Christians 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.740 can be moral? 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:16.759 Well, 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.680 quickly, 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:18.900 no. 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:21.019 He's not saying that. 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.859 He's not saying that at all. 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.599 Any Christian 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.859 who knows their heart, 00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.779 and any Christian 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:29.460 who knows other Christians, 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.400 will know that it's 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.700 definitely not the case 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:33.039 that only Christians 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.119 are loving or moral, 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.859 or that we are more moral 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.579 or more loving 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.180 than people 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.960 who are Muslims 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.779 or Buddhists 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.460 or Hindus 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.559 or atheists 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.639 or agnostics. 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.639 There's all sorts of reasons 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.920 why we do moral acts 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.960 and why we fail 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.519 to do them, 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.240 and the Bible, 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.599 Jesus here isn't saying 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:52.380 that unless you believe in God, 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.299 you're going to be immoral. 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.900 He's not saying this at all. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.039 But, 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.700 what he is saying, 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.779 if you just take a step back 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.680 from it for a second, 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.740 is actually something 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:03.319 which we all agree with, 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.859 we just don't necessarily 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.440 think of it 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.120 in terms of 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:07.579 how it connects to God. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.480 So, 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.180 just think of it 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.019 in terms of this. 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.819 Imagine for a moment 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:13.220 that you were in Las Vegas 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:14.400 on a holiday 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.940 or for work 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:17.099 or something like that, 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.700 and, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.740 you know, 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.420 during your, 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.220 every time you went down 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:23.099 to the hotel buffet 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.620 or whatever 00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.440 for your meal, 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.120 you always notice 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.380 these two young guys, 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.799 and you notice 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.759 these two young guys, 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:31.039 you notice how they talked, 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.680 you notice how much 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.319 they were drinking, 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.339 you notice how they 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.460 dealt with other young women 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.700 and stuff like that, 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:38.500 and you might roll your eyes 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:38.859 thinking, 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.140 yeah, 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.380 yeah, 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.299 that's why they say 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.720 what goes on in Vegas 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.660 stays in Vegas. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.299 And then if afterwards 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:44.880 he discovered 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.019 that one of the two of them 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.700 was single, 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.160 you'd say, 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.420 well, 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.180 he's probably going 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.900 to stay single 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.799 if that's how he sort 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.559 of lives his life 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.180 and deals with, 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.740 treats women. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.240 Or if he doesn't stay single, 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.299 he should stay single 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.640 if that's how he treats women. 00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:58.160 But then if you discovered 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.900 that the other fellow 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.600 was married, 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.180 you'd have a very, 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.779 very different, 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.340 you'd have a very different 00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:04.600 set of moral evaluation 00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.000 of him. 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.200 The existence 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.860 of the marriage relationship 00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:10.160 that you, 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.660 that how one person 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.500 acts who's single 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.400 and how another person 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:14.220 acts who's married, 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.059 you're going to have 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.120 a very different type 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.039 of moral assessment 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.559 of them. 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:18.660 So you see, 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.819 what you've just established 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.920 is you understand 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.519 that if there's 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.920 a relationship involved, 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:24.539 it changes the moral universe. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.960 And the fundamental claim 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.920 that Jesus makes 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.039 and that Christian makes 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.420 and Christians make 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:32.519 is not that I happen 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.839 to like the idea 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.839 of the Christian God 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.960 more than other ones, 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:36.900 just like I happen 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.600 to really like 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:39.360 French vanilla ice cream 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.519 more than any other 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.539 ice cream flavor. 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.920 It's not that, 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.359 yeah, you know, 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.319 French vanilla ice cream 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.879 is the best ice cream flavor. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.039 Barbecue potato chips 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.740 are the best type 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.619 of barbecue chips 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:50.559 and the triune God 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.159 is my favorite type of God. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.139 No, it's not like that at all. 00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.200 We are making, 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.559 Jesus is making a claim 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:57.139 that God the Father, 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.940 God the Son, 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.399 God the Holy Spirit, 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.139 three persons, 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.680 one God, 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.420 that that God 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:03.119 actually truly exists. 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.980 That he exists 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.980 just as much 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.139 as any one of us exists. 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.559 In fact, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.940 not only just as much 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:10.000 but vastly more. 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.359 And that therefore, 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.319 every human being 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.679 has some type of relationship 00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.399 with that God 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:17.379 whether they realize it or not. 00:22:17.479 --> 00:22:18.099 And just as being 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.899 in a relationship 00:22:18.899 --> 00:22:20.559 changes how you should be 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.619 living your moral life, 00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:22.399 if there is in fact 00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:23.659 a God that does exist, 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.779 it should change 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.099 how you live your moral life. 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.839 We've already accepted 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.519 the principle. 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.639 To give you 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.339 a different example, 00:22:30.459 --> 00:22:31.519 imagine that you go off 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.479 on a camping trip 00:22:32.479 --> 00:22:33.399 or a hiking trip 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.079 with some people 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.419 from some inveterate 00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:36.199 hiker types. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.599 I won't start mentioning names 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.419 but you sort of know 00:22:38.419 --> 00:22:38.919 who you are. 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.159 And you think you're out 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.960 on Crown Land 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.519 or you believe 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.360 you're in Crown Land 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.600 and you get a little bit lost. 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:45.120 Maybe more than a little bit lost 00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:45.620 but you don't want 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:46.100 to get worried. 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.880 And as you're a little bit lost 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:50.060 and you now didn't come back 00:22:50.060 --> 00:22:50.560 to your cars 00:22:50.560 --> 00:22:51.220 at the right time 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:51.740 but you find 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.860 an abandoned building 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:54.580 on Crown Land. 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:56.880 And so you believe 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:58.800 it's an abandoned building. 00:22:58.900 --> 00:23:00.120 It looks a little bit run down. 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.080 It definitely doesn't look 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:01.860 as well kept up 00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.380 as your house 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:03.360 and there's nobody around. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.019 And the fact is 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.680 you're cold 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.840 and et cetera, et cetera 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.759 and there's some stuff 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.120 in there 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:09.120 so you make yourself 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.940 at home in the building 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.519 and you maybe even 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:15.039 rip up some of the things 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.500 in the house 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.299 to make a fire 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.700 so you can be warm. 00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:19.440 And that's one way 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.880 of living 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.920 and we would all view 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.600 how you live 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.259 in that house 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.360 in light of the fact 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.259 that it's an abandoned 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.900 unowned property 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.820 on Crown Land. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.920 But if in fact 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.600 it turned out 00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.420 that you had left 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.299 Crown Land 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:33.740 you're now 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:35.059 on private property 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.639 and this isn't 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.960 an abandoned property 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.299 but it actually 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.579 belongs to somebody. 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.680 And then not only 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.399 does it belong 00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:45.099 to somebody 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:46.680 but that as you 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.500 go into the house 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.279 and start to make 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:49.039 yourself at home 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.940 and start to break up 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.419 the furniture 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:51.299 and start to make up 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.680 the fire 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.519 you hadn't realized 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.159 that the owner 00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:53.579 of the house 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.599 had just been in a bush 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:56.220 a couple hundred yards away 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.159 and they come into the house 00:23:57.159 --> 00:23:57.700 while you're doing 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.159 all of that. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:58.879 Well you'd understand 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.779 that that's a radically 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.859 different way of living. 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.940 You're not in an abandoned house 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.659 you're in a house 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:05.519 that's owned by somebody 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.579 and that the owner 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.180 is present. 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.839 Well it's the exact 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.639 same type of thing 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.859 with what Jesus is saying. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.460 Once again 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.919 if God doesn't exist 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.440 then it's 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:15.059 God doesn't exist 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.839 we are so wasting 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.960 our time here. 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.000 Like if he doesn't exist 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.379 we should just leave 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:23.639 and go do something fun. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.419 Right? 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.940 But if in fact 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:30.319 there is a God 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.200 that does exist 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.420 and therefore 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.000 in a sense 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.880 every human being 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.539 is called to have 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.620 some type of relationship 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.140 with him 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.660 if the triune God exists 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:40.200 and if this isn't 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.460 if the world 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.860 that we find ourselves in 00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:43.799 isn't abandoned 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.860 and with no owner 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.620 but there actually 00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.660 isn't an owner 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.460 and he's present 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:49.120 then that has to change 00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.019 how we live in it. 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.940 And to know the owner 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.000 or to know the one 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.880 that we're in a relationship 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.299 with 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.360 and what they're like 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:57.519 becomes unbelievably important 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.299 if you want to try 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.860 to figure out 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.340 what it means 00:24:59.340 --> 00:24:59.960 to live a good 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.860 and moral life 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:02.299 a just life 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.559 a life that flourishes 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.440 a life of beauty 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.640 it matters deeply. 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.579 And the second thing though 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.960 in fact 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.039 if you think about it 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.519 for a second 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.000 especially 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.240 I don't have time 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.920 to develop it 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.259 but it 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.620 you know 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.400 as I've said 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.400 many times before 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:21.340 only the Christian God 00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:22.200 really provides 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.100 a proper basis 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.819 for love 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.539 that from all eternity 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.740 the Father 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.660 has loved the Son 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.120 and the Son 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:29.019 has loved the Father 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.960 and the Holy Spirit 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.759 has loved the Father 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.420 and the Holy Spirit 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.180 has loved the Son 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.580 and on and on 00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:33.940 and on 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.480 and only 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:36.120 the Christian God 00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:38.420 only the Christian God 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:40.740 is truly a God of love. 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.040 And then 00:25:43.040 --> 00:25:44.080 doesn't it make sense 00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:45.080 that what Jesus said 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.180 I'm sort of changing 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.080 how he says it 00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:48.140 but getting the sense 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:49.980 love 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.160 love 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:53.120 if you want to love 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.600 your neighbor 00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:55.220 if God is love 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:57.759 then doesn't it make sense 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.820 that if God is love 00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.740 that to love 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:02.180 with all of who you are 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.860 love himself 00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:06.340 that that will help you 00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.120 to love your neighbor. 00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:08.660 In fact actually 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.660 to go even further 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.200 because 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.400 Jesus is 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.500 Emmanuel 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.840 he's God with us 00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:15.720 he's speaking these words 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.200 and it's very interesting 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.380 he's speaking these words 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.120 not the day 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:20.320 two days before 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.939 he closes a business deal 00:26:21.939 --> 00:26:22.659 that will make him 00:26:22.659 --> 00:26:23.539 the modern equivalent 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.700 of a billion dollars. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.339 He's not making 00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.159 these comments 00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:28.419 two days before 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.539 he goes to war 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.319 and is going to lead 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.439 troops in a battle 00:26:31.439 --> 00:26:32.619 that will end up 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.200 conquering 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.839 half of the known world. 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.939 He says these things 00:26:36.939 --> 00:26:38.059 a day or two 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.000 before he dies 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.740 on the cross 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:45.720 which is a day or two 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.579 before he rises 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.279 from the dead. 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.859 So if you think about it 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:51.000 doesn't it make sense 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.279 that if you want to love 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.479 your neighbor as yourself 00:26:53.479 --> 00:26:55.699 you need to love 00:26:55.699 --> 00:26:56.719 love himself 00:26:56.719 --> 00:26:58.899 if you want love's help 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:00.500 to love your neighbor well. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.839 Like that's just wisdom. 00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:08.679 Another part of it 00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:10.000 that's very very wise 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.339 is how it changes 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.099 your mental 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.099 and spiritual 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:16.859 and emotional 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:18.199 universe 00:27:18.199 --> 00:27:19.199 to understand 00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:20.359 that God is big 00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:22.179 and you are small. 00:27:22.979 --> 00:27:24.000 The fact of the matter 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.879 is is we live 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.859 day by day 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.719 assessing 00:27:26.719 --> 00:27:27.519 who's big 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.359 and who's small 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:30.379 and if our problems 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:31.059 are big 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.599 and we feel small 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.199 we'll feel 00:27:33.199 --> 00:27:34.379 very very anxious 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:36.459 and that big problem 00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:38.139 or that big person 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.779 ends up dominating 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.639 our imagination 00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.659 and dominating 00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.859 how we make decisions 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:44.979 and we feel 00:27:44.979 --> 00:27:46.359 very very very small 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.959 but if God is big 00:27:47.959 --> 00:27:49.879 and we are small 00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:50.479 that means 00:27:50.479 --> 00:27:51.139 that everybody 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:52.399 everything that we're 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:52.899 dealing with 00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:54.059 is going to be small 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:56.079 compared to the big God. 00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:58.159 See that's why 00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:58.659 I think 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.819 that 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.899 the words of Jesus 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.740 which at first 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.839 seem sort of offensive 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.679 to us 00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:07.259 and to our culture 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.079 not to Christians 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.719 necessarily 00:28:08.719 --> 00:28:10.119 are very very wise 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:11.399 because if God is big 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.300 and we are small 00:28:12.300 --> 00:28:13.160 that begins 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.640 as the more we understand 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.340 that the more 00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:16.640 we grasp 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.700 that we are to meditate 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.620 upon the fact 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.240 that if we want 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.120 to live well 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:22.320 justly 00:28:22.320 --> 00:28:23.100 and love well 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:24.920 and to be generous 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.000 and to be kind 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.259 that we need to love 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.480 God himself 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.860 with all of whom we are 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:33.860 and to love him 00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:35.140 properly means 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:36.160 to also understand 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.740 just how big he is 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.880 that he is the sovereign God 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.960 of the entire universe 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:43.960 and that starts 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.539 to help us 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.759 to be a non-anxious 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.019 presence to others 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:49.140 because God 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:51.039 is the biggest thing 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.220 the biggest one 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:54.240 not that problem 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.960 or not that 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.539 particular person 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:59.360 it becomes a guard 00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.579 against our love 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:02.539 being self-centered 00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.980 and narcissistic 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:06.940 to understand 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.880 that we 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.840 ultimately 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:10.139 are dealing 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.859 with a God 00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:11.559 who is vastly 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.419 bigger than us 00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:14.220 and bigger than 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.679 any problem 00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:15.559 we are going to fix 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.679 to deal with 00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:21.059 I have to 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:21.439 just about 00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:22.019 I have to 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.399 sort of wrap this up 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:25.539 one of the things 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.339 about this text 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:26.959 which is very 00:29:26.959 --> 00:29:27.980 very helpful 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.819 as well 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:31.480 is 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.119 and this also 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.179 is a protection 00:29:34.179 --> 00:29:35.439 against narcissism 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.299 and being self-centered 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:39.420 that if 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.460 the more you 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.140 meditate upon 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.940 this text 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.360 you realize 00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:45.860 this is really 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.279 hard 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.059 this is far 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.539 harder 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.799 than just 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.559 keeping some 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.460 moral rules 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:52.820 like 00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:54.600 what human being 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.340 could say 00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:56.799 that they have 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.820 perfectly loved 00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.860 the true 00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.720 and living God 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:00.600 love himself 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.920 with all their heart 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.820 with all their mind 00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:03.820 with all their strength 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.720 with all their soul 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.179 that they have 00:30:05.179 --> 00:30:05.639 done that 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.259 forever 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.339 that they have 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.039 loved their neighbor 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:09.119 as their selves 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.839 that this 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:12.179 these two words 00:30:12.179 --> 00:30:12.819 of Jesus 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:15.200 they 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.639 they should 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.099 be heard 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.439 in a way 00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:18.500 that humbles us 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:21.460 that makes us 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:21.819 realize 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.939 that we haven't 00:30:22.939 --> 00:30:23.339 been able 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.179 to live up 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:25.059 to this standard 00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:27.059 yeah yeah yeah 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.419 we have been 00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:27.639 you know 00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.299 maybe good at 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.619 you know 00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:29.919 we have been 00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:30.679 an attentive 00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.700 son 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.960 and an attentive 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.000 husband 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.059 and maybe 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.580 an attentive 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:36.400 enough dad 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.880 and well liked 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.400 at work 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.759 and from these 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.500 other types 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.440 of moral rules 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.140 we can look 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.580 like we've 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.059 accomplished 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.740 a very very 00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.360 high level 00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:45.100 but if you hear 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:45.740 these searching 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.559 words of Jesus 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.380 you realize 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.400 that you 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.299 haven't 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.779 actually lived 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.500 by the most 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.500 important moral 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:52.980 rules 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.700 you haven't 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.259 met them 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.360 and that therefore 00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.279 you need a savior 00:30:56.279 --> 00:31:10.639 in that very 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:11.539 very first story 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.059 that I gave 00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.980 about the pedophile 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:16.299 one of the 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.740 mistakes 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.379 that the people 00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.859 made 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:19.079 when they were 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.480 dealing 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:21.319 with me 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:25.359 was that they 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:25.879 sort of tried 00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.579 to play off 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.039 against 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.200 justice 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.279 the need 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.659 to love 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:30.439 unconditionally 00:31:30.439 --> 00:31:33.240 I wasn't 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.579 to act 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.079 in a just 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.720 way towards 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.359 the victims 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.559 because I was 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:36.919 to love 00:31:36.919 --> 00:31:37.659 unconditionally 00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.139 and it's 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.460 one of the 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.960 things which 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.559 is very 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.079 confusing 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:40.460 in our 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.960 culture 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.059 how you 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.639 still have 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.059 justice 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.639 and how you 00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:44.099 still have 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:44.539 love 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.939 and part 00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:46.139 of the 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.379 problem 00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:46.879 is that 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:47.559 that word 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.319 unconditional 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.039 love 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.179 unconditional 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.960 love 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.500 means 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:53.360 you don't 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.220 think about 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.840 justice 00:31:54.840 --> 00:31:56.080 that's what 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.660 unconditional 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.480 means 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.880 and so 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.279 we're 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:00.779 sort of 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.340 caught 00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.200 in our 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.700 culture 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.539 increasingly 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.160 about how 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.860 you combine 00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:05.539 justice 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:07.320 with love 00:32:07.320 --> 00:32:08.519 and it 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.160 seems as if 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.640 really you 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:09.960 have to 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:11.759 almost be 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.420 bipolar 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:15.640 that you 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.080 either have 00:32:16.080 --> 00:32:16.360 to be 00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:16.759 justice 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.120 or you 00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.480 have to 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:17.640 be 00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:17.980 love 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:19.720 but you'll 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.220 notice that 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.059 Jesus doesn't 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.640 say that 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.579 love replaces 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:23.420 the commandments 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:25.700 what he says 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.600 is that love 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.480 of God 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:27.960 and love 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.519 of neighbor 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.680 is what 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:32.319 all of the 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.759 commandments 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.420 hang on 00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:33.980 these 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:37.880 doesn't mean 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:38.519 that because 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.160 of love 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.000 sometimes 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.839 because of 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.200 love you're 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.740 not just 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.180 or because 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.620 of love 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:42.980 you're not 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.380 generous 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:43.839 or because 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.220 of love 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.519 you don't 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:44.920 care for 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.360 the poor 00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.620 no no no 00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:46.819 no no 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.539 you have 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:47.980 all these 00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.480 other moral 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.079 commandments 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:50.799 often if we 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.779 exercise justice 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.519 without love 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.299 the justice 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.039 can be very 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.759 very hard 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.220 and can be 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:55.740 very very 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.259 cruel 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.779 and can be 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.299 very very 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.019 unfeeling 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.279 and can forget 00:32:59.279 --> 00:32:59.740 about the 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.899 real people 00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.720 who are there 00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.960 and so what 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.919 Jesus is saying 00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.519 here is that 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.119 you remember 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.980 the existence 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.799 of the triune 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.179 God 00:33:07.179 --> 00:33:07.779 and you desire 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.439 to love him 00:33:08.439 --> 00:33:09.079 first and 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.480 foremost 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.879 he is big 00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:11.399 and you are 00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:11.859 small 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.839 and in light 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.159 of that 00:33:13.159 --> 00:33:13.619 you love 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.139 your neighbor 00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:14.799 as yourself 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.659 and in light 00:33:15.659 --> 00:33:15.940 of that 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.480 that's then 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:16.879 how you 00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:17.359 sort out 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:17.740 how you 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.339 be generous 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:19.379 and how you 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.059 be just 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.899 and how you 00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:21.659 be merciful 00:33:21.659 --> 00:33:22.559 and how you 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.319 be honest 00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:24.240 and how you 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.119 be penitent 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.839 and how you 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.680 be prayerful 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.579 and how you 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:28.759 observe Sabbath 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:30.200 and how you 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:32.200 deal with your 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:32.899 wife and with 00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:33.440 your children 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.960 and how you 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.359 deal with 00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:34.899 singleness 00:33:34.899 --> 00:33:35.419 and how you 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:35.779 deal with 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.399 everything 00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:37.440 it's not 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:39.000 that love 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:40.259 removes all 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.639 the other 00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:41.099 commandments 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.680 because that 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.180 puts us 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:42.839 as a culture 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.539 and us as 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.079 human beings 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.399 and this 00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:45.179 crazy type 00:33:45.179 --> 00:33:45.539 of thing 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:45.839 where we 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.199 either have 00:33:46.199 --> 00:33:46.599 to throw 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:47.139 love away 00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:47.839 to be just 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:49.339 or you 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:49.519 know 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.659 or like 00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.439 that's just 00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:51.779 crazy 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.259 but Jesus 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.720 says no 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:52.839 no 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.000 no 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.240 no 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.399 no 00:33:53.399 --> 00:33:53.639 no 00:33:53.639 --> 00:33:53.839 no 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.119 no 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.299 no 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.599 no 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:54.619 no 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:54.699 no 00:33:54.699 --> 00:33:54.720 no 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:54.740 no 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:56.699 no 00:33:56.699 --> 00:33:58.659 no 00:33:58.659 --> 00:33:58.779 no 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:58.819 no 00:33:58.819 --> 00:33:58.839 no 00:33:58.839 --> 00:33:58.859 no 00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:58.879 no 00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:58.980 no 00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.179 no 00:33:59.179 --> 00:33:59.599 no 00:33:59.599 --> 00:33:59.819 no 00:33:59.819 --> 00:33:59.899 no 00:33:59.899 --> 00:33:59.919 no 00:33:59.919 --> 00:33:59.980 no 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.019 no 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.119 no 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.299 no 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:00.919 no 00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:01.919 no 00:34:01.919 --> 00:34:02.019 no 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.039 no 00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.059 no 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.139 no 00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:03.980 no 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.059 no 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:05.980 no 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:15.619 no 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:17.039 no 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:19.139 no 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.699 no 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.420 no 00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.199 no 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:21.519 no 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.199 no 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.159 no 00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:29.559 to the oppressed. Look at the issues of being compassionate towards the poor. Look at the 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:33.359 issues of being generous to the spread of the gospel. Look at all of these other issues, 00:34:33.859 --> 00:34:38.839 all from the perspective of love. All from the perspective of love. 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.480 Let's bow our heads and... I invite you to stand for a moment. Let's stand and bow our heads in 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:56.400 prayer. Father, we acknowledge before you that when Jesus said these things, he was on his way 00:34:56.400 --> 00:35:02.920 to the cross. And Father, we know from Jesus' own words that it was him dying on the cross which 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:10.139 most fully reveals who you are. And it not only most fully reveals, Father, who you are, 00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:14.559 but it's also an act by which we are redeemed and made right with you. 00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:21.199 Not weighing our merits, you pardon our offenses. Not thinking how wonderful and beautiful we are, 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:26.659 you bestow upon us a wonder and a beauty in the righteousness of Christ which clothes us. 00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:33.440 We ask, Lord, that you might fan into flame within us a deep longing and yearning to love you with 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:38.440 all our mind and all our strength and all our soul and all our heart and love our neighbors as 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:44.840 ourselves. And we ask, Father, that you would bring this word home deeply to us as we think about how 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:49.300 to deal with the powerful, how to deal with the weak, how to deal with children, how to deal with the 00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:56.539 aged, how to deal with the unborn, how to deal with those close to death, how to deal with those in 00:35:56.539 --> 00:36:02.700 great need and those who have much, how to deal with generosity, how to deal with faith, how to deal 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:08.819 with forgiveness, how to deal with taking action when action is called. Father, we ask that these 00:36:08.819 --> 00:36:13.619 great principles would be that with the help of your Holy Spirit in the presence of Christ, 00:36:14.799 --> 00:36:22.879 that you would form us to be people of love, to live life well for the glory, your great glory, 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:28.119 for our true good, and for the good of our neighbor. And we ask this in the name of Jesus, 00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:30.139 your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:34.699 Amen.