5/3/18 – Leviticus 13:1-59 – Mark 12:28-44 – Proverbs 6:20-29

Mark 12:28-31

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 neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Here a scribe comes up to Jesus and asks a genuine question. No trap here, so Jesus answers it. What is the most commandment of all?

And it’s a really good question.

Remember how many rules the Jewish people lived by. Part of our daily readings at the moment includes Leviticus where we can see them.

In the books of the law, there are many many commands. But they all hinge on this – our love for God. If we truly love God with all our heart, soul and mind – the rest of the laws aren’t a burden – they fall into place. This also helps us with the second – that we love our neighbours as ourselves.

On these two everything else relies.

It’s not about how much you do. It’s not about how much you sacrifice. It’s about love. Jesus said if you love Him, you’ll obey His commandments. That wasn’t a condition – but because of love, the commandments are not a burden. They are a pleasure.

Mark 12:41-44

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

It’s not about what you give – its about what it costs you.

Jesus is telling us something very important. People focus on the amount, but God focuses on the heart behind the giving.

He’s not condemning those who gave before this poor widow. But He’s saying she gave more. Giving out of lack is harder than giving out of abundance. But it’s worth a lot more.

It’s not about the amount… it’s about the cost.

When it comes to an offering, God is not after your money (He owns everything anyway). He’s after your heart.

It’s the giving that shows where the heart is.

What does your giving say about your heart?

Prov 6:27-29

Can a man carry fire next to his chest

and his clothes not be burned?

Or can one walk on hot coals

and his feet not be scorched?

So is he who goes in to his neighbour’s wife;

none who touches her will go unpunished.

“It’s harmless – it’s just a bit of flirting.” That’s a statement from someone who’s about to get themselves into deep trouble.

Don’t play with fire. You can’t carry hot coals next to your chest without getting burned. Yes, it might give you a warm feeling initially, but you will be scorched.

Lives are not things we should be playing games with. If in doubt…. Don’t pick up the hot coal.