The Greatest Commandment

 last 2 weeks = people questioning Jesus to discredit Him
   ie:  Sadducees, Pharisees, Herodians

Now = an individual = "a teacher of the Law" - expert in the Law
         (a lawyer .... and The Law = law of Moses)
NOTE:  He seems ... impressed with Jesus' answers
                             .... sincere in his inquiry

Mark 12:28   613 commands (248 thou shalts and 365 thou shalt nots)
Was a common debate  "which = greater?  weightier?  most important?

Jesus' answer - Mark 12:29-31
1st. half of the answer = from The Shema - (Deut. 6)
Shema = basic statement of faith for Jews
              is recited morning and evening - (and beginning of Synagogue)

Breakdown - (1)  The Lord is One - there is only one God and it is YHWH
                     (2)  The Lord ... OUR God is One - ie:  the only true God - the God of Israel!!  (to distinguish from all other people groups)
                     (3)  You are to love the Lord... with ALL your .. heart - soul - mind - strength.  

Meaning???  your Whole being!!! (Hebrews "with your utmost)
                    heart - affections/emotions/feelings
                    soul
                    mind = intelligence/ reasoning powers
                    strength - ability/ might/ power/ ACTIONS!!

Deut. 6:4-9   - (1)  impress these on your children
                       (2)  talk about them ... when lie down and rise up!
                       (3)  tie them on your arms and forehead
                       (4)  Write them on your door frames

So... (1)  Recited (at least) twice a day (lie down/ rise up)
        (2)  tied on as Phylacteries 
        (3) written on door posts as Mezuzahs   

The point being  (1)  a constant awareness of God.  (His Word, Laws, Presence/ Promises)
                         (2)  Visual and Verbal expressions of Faith in God. 
                                   which = a witness, testimony of your Faith in YHWH

2nd. half of Jesus' answer - Lev. 19:18
Plus very important addition from Matt. 22:37-40   
In other words, (1)  the Most Important Command = love the Lord your God
                        (2) the 2nd. Most Important Command - love your neighbor as yourself
                And  (3)  all the laws and other writings HANG on THESE 2!!
(If do the first 2, will do all the rest.)

Illustration:  Door (2 hinges (#1 and #2) / list on the door - other 611) moral laws
Hence we have 611 commentaries (explanations) of HOW TO FULFILL #1 and #2!!! (examples)

Back to Mark 12:32-33 - are not minimizing ceremonial laws .. But - recognizing these are symbolic expressions of Faith ... And are Secondary to true faith!!

Old Testament examples:  1 Sam. 15:22-23
                                        Hosea 6:6
                                        Isa. 29:13
                                        Matt. 15:8

1 more verse to examine - Mark 12:34

Jesus .... (1) Recognizes the man's wisdom (in seeing the true meaning of sacrifices and the true expressions of faith)
              (2)  Commends his current faith postion - "not far from Kingdom" = close to!!
     And  (3) thus (temporarily) silences His critics

OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATIONS

(1)  We are to love the Lord with our WHOLE being
ie:  internally and externally... as we express love for God we develop love for God!!

"Acting out behavior of love prompt corresponding feelings of love.  Going through the motions fosters feelings.  (from a rabbi on a Jewish website)

(2)  We are to love our neighbor  AS OURSELVES!! 
common denominator here = LOVE!!!  (Greek - Agape)  The same way God loves.
Luke's account (different occasion) = a 2nd. question ... Luke 10:29  Good Samaritan Story - Luke 10:36-37

(3)  These are COMMANDS from God  (Not suggestions/ not options/ not multiple choice

(4)  These are the MOST IMPORTANT commands of God. 
      to violate ANY moral law ==> loosening the hinges ==> the door begins to hang ASKEW!!

(5)  Recognizing this is Wisdom - Mark 12:34  "Jesus saw he answered wisely...."  (to not recognize this is foolishness)

(6)  Practicing this is GREATER WISDOM!!  Matt. 7:24
Godly wisdom ==> practice (application) of wisdom.
Application of that wisdom ==> practical outcome!!  (results)

(7)  "not far from the Kingdom....." is still NOT IN the Kingdom!!  - example:  rich young ruler.
      (still outside.  Being close does not count.)

The Error of the Sadducees

 Last week = confrontation with Pharisees and Herodians

NOW = confrontation with Sadducees - Mark 12:18

Pharisees were right wing, conservative, nationalistic, Law of Moses keepers
Opposed Jesus for religious reasons - interpretation of the Law

Herodians were liberal, left wing, Jews who were in bed with Rome
Opposed Jesus for political reasons (feared dis-favor with Rome_

Sadducees were in between!  Claim YHWH - Claim Judaism - But ... seek success in this life!! - all about here and now. 
Example:  Pragmatists - ie:  if it works for me, then = true (truth)
Had a foot in each camp!!  (liberal and conservative)
Not much mention of Sadducees in scripture but were very influential.

Sadducees = small group - wealthy, urban, upper class, educated, sophisticated, successful, ... AND they intended to stay that way!!!

Were fewer in number, and Not popular with the people.  But, were very influential!! 
Example = were Keepers of the Temple  (multi-billion dollar operation)
Were the movers and shakers in the Sanhedrin (ruling body) 
Were influential with Rome - the emperor, governors

Sadducees opposed Jesus because .. (1)  He's a country bumpkin - poor, uneducated, Galilean
Example:  Josephus' words concerning the Sadducees - "The Sadducees are, even among themselves, rather boorish in their behavior and, in their intercourse with their peers, are as rude as aliens."

(2)  He's popular with the people - (and they are not!)

(3)  He's perceived as a threat - to their comfortable and prosperous life-style - because he might upset Rome!!!  "don't rock the boat"

(Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees all  oppose Jesus!  Rome = indifferent to Him!!)  It's His own people who are opposed to Him.

What the Sadducees believed (and didn't believe)
Believed - (1)  theTorah - 1st. 5 books of the Bible - written by Moses  (believed they were the only authority)
therefore, (2)  YHWH - the 1 true God
(3)  should keep the Law to receive blessings in this life!!

Didn't believe - (1)  oral tradition (unwritten laws)
                       (2)  other 34 books of the Old Testament
                       (3) in Angels!?!
                       (4)  in afterlife!?!  no heaven, no hell.  This life only!
Therefore, (5)  in judgment ... in punishment or rewards  (ie:  in an afterlife)
(6)  the Resurrection ..... this is not about Jesus' resurrection.  (no one was even thinking of that!)
                                      = the general resurrection of believers.

Definition:  general Resurrection = God raising to life the Physical body and re-uniting it with the spirit/soul

John 5:25-29
John 6:39-40
John 11:23-24
(also found in Isaiah, Daniel, Romans, 1 Cor., 1 Thess., Revelation..)

So.....hoping to show Jesus as an ignorant and unlearned hillbilly ... Sadducees present rhetorical situation!

Mark 12:19-23  (from Deut. 25:5-6 - designed to protect widow and guarantee continuance of family lineage and inheritance)

Jesus' reply - Mark 12:24-27 with Luke 20:34-38

Emphasis on Mark 12:24 - "ye do err because Don't Know!!!!  God's Word, God's Power.....
Major insult to the Sadducees.

I)  You don't Know God's Word (the scriptures)
On one hand then knew the text well  (ie:  head knowledge)
However, Faith is more than intellectual grasp of Scripture.

Faith includes... (1) proper interpretation (of scriptures)
                         (2)  a resulting confidence (in God)

Compare to use of "Know" in Gen. 4:1 - "Adam Knew Eve....."
Point is more than head knowledge.  = personal intimacy!

(in other words, you know His words ... but do you Know Him?) 
hence, Bible Time verse - Phil. 3:10 - "That I might know Him.."

II)  You don't Know God's Power - ie:  His ability to do things BEYOND your comprehension and imagination!!

in context ... much of next life = like this life (personhood, interaction, seeing, hearing, speaking, touching, feelings,)
However, much will be different!  (evil, sin, sickness, death AND marriage as we know it.  

Objection!!   Body is here but person alive There??  And eventually body is raised?  renewed?  re-united to spirit/soul???

Answer:  is beyond out comprehension, but not beyond God's power!!!
Scripture examples:  1 Thess.4:13-17
                                1 Cor. 15:51-52
                                1 John 3:2

Jesus' final words - Mark 12:27 = "You are BADLY MISTAKEN!"

Some Observations/Applications

(1)  We can easily repeat the Sadducees error...
ie:  NOT knowing God's Word or God's Power
On one hand, we can't know it all  (He = infinite)
However, we can know enough to trust  - Deut. 29:29

(2)  Your logic (understanding) is a poor argument against God's knowledge.

(3)  True faith is not knowing all about God.... true faith is knowing enough about Him to trust Him in things we don't understand.  Deut. 29:29

(4)  Your view of the next life will influence your behavior in this life.

(5)  Beware a vain, prideful, smug attitude.  It prevents acquisition of knowledge! - Prov. 16:18

(6)  Don't ever under-estimate the power of God!!
This was the error of the Sadducees!