Beyond the Weekend

March 10 | What Matters Most

March 10, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

Read: Mark 12:28-34
Listen:
Mark 12

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Two groups have failed to trap Jesus with a question. Now a lone religious leader steps forward to ask a final question. The question seems innocent enough, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” The intent is to have Jesus answer by giving a commandment not found in the law of Moses. In the eyes of the Jews, Moses was the supreme figure in their history, and no word of God could be greater than what came from him.

As before, Jesus’s response is perfect and accurate. The first part quotes a well-known passage from Deuteronomy that would’ve been familiar to all Jews. As a call to love neighbors, strangers and enemies, the second part is from a lesser-known passage in Leviticus and would have been fairly revolutionary. Tying these together, Jesus says that “all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40).

This means that everything in the Ten Commandments (and all that we know is right) fits under what Jesus says. We won’t lie about our friend, won’t steal the affections of someone else’s spouse and won’t covet what someone else owns. We see that living out the greatest commandments isn’t just about following some simple rules. It’s about doing the right thing as we love God and love people.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Continue to memorize this month’s memory verse on developing the fruits of the Spirit. As we memorize these verses, the goal is to live them in relationships with others. By yielding to God and allowing his Spirit to work in us, we demonstrate both love for God and love for others.


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse!

GALATIANS 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

You Might Also Like