Mark 12:28-44

“Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments 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.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’” (Mark 12:29–31, NKJV)

I am basically a simple guy. If I were a decorator, I would be a minimalist. I like simple instructions that are not complicated. When my wife asks me to do something around the house, I ask her to keep it to two to three things at a time. Any more than that, and I will either forget or get distracted.

So, I can understand a very tired scribe, weary with trying to keep all 613 commandments of the Law, asking Jesus which one was most important. Jesus was not put off by his question. It was an honest inquiry from someone who wanted to be a good Jew.

Jesus boiled all the Law and the Prophets down to two commandments: love God and love your neighbor.

The scribe immediately appreciated the wisdom of this answer. He responded that loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself is better than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus was impressed with his honest answer. How refreshing this must have been after fielding the insincere questions of the Pharisees and Sadducees! Jesus replied, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

If we would be true citizens of the kingdom…if we would show others its reality and impact, then we must prioritize these two commandments. In fact, it wouldn’t be such a bad plan every morning to pray, “Father, how can I love you more today? And how can I love others the same way I love myself?”

Simple instructions for simple people who care more about loving others than trying to impress them.