The Greatest Commandment
Leviticus
19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34
International Sunday School Lesson
May 25, 2014
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
Last week when we were considering our scripture I tied it
in with the desire God has for us to worship him in Spirit and truth. I also
mentioned how we have the ever changing groups within our places where we
worship who, though they change, things still stay eerily the same in that the
way we worship often times hinders worship.
This week as we consider our assignments we see in the
assigned scripture a great example of how we can help instead of hinder as we
look at the greatest commandments. Therefore, I ask, despite all that we can
learn, despite all the words is this what we should most glean from all that
the Bible is showing us?
For some like me who are detail oriented or perfectionists
this can be very difficult to answer in the affirmative. But we can allay the
fears we have in doing wrong or doing things half-way by seeing from today's
scripture that Christ did not shy away when He was asked about this very thing.
His answer, as you know, is immediately given in today's Mark 4 and is fleshed out by the scribe with Christ's approval.
Today's scripture clearly wants us living like this in our
daily lives, loving God with everything we have; loving our neighbor as
ourselves, not seeking revenge and not holding grudges. Furthermore it is not
something we do in secret but rather we do it in a way that it is a part of our
being.
This is how we are to raise our children. We don't leave
this at home but since it is a part of us it is with us everywhere we go from
home to work. It is with us in what we
think of as we go to bed and the first thing we think of when we arise.
Living out our lives as Christians in this manner rather
than all our, if we apply it to today, burnt offerings, will truly be
worshiping and demonstrating how to worship in Spirit and truth.
Enough said.
For Discussion:
1.
Read all of Leviticus
19 and Deuteronomy 6.
2.
Discuss instances where you held grudges or
sought revenge.
3.
Discuss where you were able to do the reverse.
4.
Discuss how the commands we read of in the OT
scriptures above reveal the character of God.
5.
Discuss people who do not love themselves.
6.
Discuss examples from the Bible where people
followed these greatest commandments or where some did not.
7.
Discuss how it requires our cooperation with the
Holy Spirit if we are to accomplish this.
Upcoming Lessons
June 1 Obey the
Lord, Haggai 1:1-11
June 8 Trust God’s
Promises, Haggai 1:12-2:9
June 15 Live Pure
Lives, Haggai 2:10-19
June 22 Hope for a
New Day, Haggai 2:20-23 or Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14
June 29 A Call to
Unity or Pursue Unity in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 or 1 Corinthians 1:10-17;
3:4-9
July 6 Glorify God
with Your Body, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
July 13 Love Builds
Up or Exercise Freedom with Caution, 1 Corinthians 8
July 20 Overcoming
Temptation, 1Corinthians 10:12-22 or 1 Corinthians 10:6-22
July 27 Seek the
Good of Others, 1 Corinthians 14:13-26
August 3 Consolation
Granted Through Prayer or Comfort in Times of Trouble, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
August 10 A Community Forgives or Forgiveness and
Restoration, 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11
August 17 Treasure in Clay Pots or Treasure in Earthen
Vessels, 2 Corinthians 4:2-15 or 2 Corinthians 4:1-15
August 24 An Appeal for Reconciliation, 2 Corinthians
6:1-13; 7:2-4 or 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; 7:1-4
August 31 A Community Shares Its Resources or Generosity in
the Midst of Poverty, 2 Corinthians 8:1-14
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved
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