"Not Far"

Scripture Passage

Mark 12:28-34; Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:35-37; Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44; Mark 12:38-40; Matthew 23:1-12; Luke 20:45-47; Matthew 23:13-39; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4

Scripture Focus

“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34 NLT)

Observation

In the opening verses of today’s reading, Jesus is questioned regarding the “greatest commandment.” The question was a most troubling one to Jesus’ audience, as the Talmud identified 613 different laws to be kept by an observant Jew. That’s a lot of religious observance! Jesus is “up to the task” as usual, and gives a powerful reply:

“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Matthew 12:29-31 NLT).

That is not only a familiar response, but a remarkable one. Jesus captures in a few words what no one else had been able to do before—or perhaps what no one else had wanted to do before! Reduce those 613 commandments to one simple summary statement and all the power of religious leaders to manipulate, control, and direct others disappears. Enlarge the command of God beyond legalistic obedience to a place of genuine love and the task demands more grace than mere religiosity can provide. Jesus’ words would be well-chosen as a life motto for anyone with a heart for God.

But Jesus goes one step further. The teacher who asked the question affirms Jesus’ answer as “well put.” Jesus then commends the teacher!

Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34 NLT)

Again I suggest that everything Jesus has said and done throughout the record of His earthly ministry so far was to announce the inbreaking of God’s kingdom. He’s said repeatedly, “The Kingdom of God is near.” Now, he tells this teacher, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Wow—I want to be that guy…that person…who, loving God and neighbor with heart, soul, and mind, and strength, inches closer than ever to the advancing Kingdom of the Almighty God!

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