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 and with all your soul and 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 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 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. (Mar 12:28-34)

We love to do the right thing

But knowing what is right can be difficult!

For the Jews of Jesus’ time, Keeping the rules was vital. 

You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. Deu 5:32-33

So they worked hard by adding extra laws to make sure

But which was the most imortant one?

What is the most important commandment?

Jesus response: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength.” 

But then he added to it!

and you shall love your neighbour as yourself. Mk.12:31

To love others is as important as loving God

This is radical! Dangerous. Controversial!     

It is right to love God

“He alone is worthy to receive all honour and glory and power and praise” Rev.4:11

it is appropriate to make it a prioirty

But to make Loving others as important - that is radical!

The story of the Good Samaritan…

“Go and do likewise” Luke 10:37

The importance of loving 'the other'.

To love God means you have to love others as if they were your best friend!

Let that sink in….

To love people who are different is hard!

What is God’s greatest commandment?

Jesus says: It is to love Him – and to love them in the same way

you are a liar if you say you love God and you don't love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live? 1 John 4:20  

How do we love others today?

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, Col.3:11,12

All people are loved by God… and therefore to be loved by me.