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Mark 12:28-34 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Mark chapter 12 will begin in verse 28.
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And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another,
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! And seeing that he answered them well, asked him,
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! Which commandment is the most important of all?
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Jesus answered, The most important is,
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Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
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And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
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and with all your soul,
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and with all your mind,
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and with all your strength.
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The second is this,
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You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
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There is no other commandment greater than these.
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And the scribe said to him,
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You are right, teacher.
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You have truly said that he is one,
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and there is no other beside him.
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And to love him with all the heart,
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and with all the understanding,
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and with all the strength,
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and to love one's neighbor as oneself
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is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
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And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely,
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he said to him,
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You are not far from the kingdom of God.
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And after that,
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no one dared to ask him any more questions.
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This is God's word to us.
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It was written for his glory and our good.
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We would all do well to listen to it
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in order to believe its promises
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and obey its commands.
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Let's pray together.
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Father, we would ask for your namesake
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that you would bless the preaching of your word.
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Lord, we all need you in this time.
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I need you to help me speak with clarity,
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with a compassion,
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and a conviction for the truth.
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And we all need you to rightly apply these words to our hearts.
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Change us from one degree of glory to another.
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Father, to the praise of Jesus.
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We pray this in his name.
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Amen.
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When we continue, if you're a guest with us,
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we've been working through the Gospel of Mark,
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verse by verse,
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and we've come now here to Mark 12.
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This is during the historical event of Passion Week.
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Jesus has come into Jerusalem on Monday.
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You can read about that at the beginning of chapter 11.
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On Monday, on Tuesday,
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he comes and he cleanses the temple.
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He goes in and he runs out the money changers,
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the people who were doing business in the temple court,
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the court of the Gentiles.
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He had, in fact, done so three years prior to this.
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We can read about this in the second chapter of John,
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that at the very beginning of his ministry,
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he went and did this very same thing,
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disrupted the temple practice of the day,
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the apostate worship that was going on,
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and he's now back.
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And he's in this final week,
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and we've come to Wednesday of this week.
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Jesus will be crucified on Friday.
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But here we find him having kind of dominated,
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having set up camp and taken over in the temple,
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having driven out those who were exchanging money
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and extorting the people,
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who were leading them astray,
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and he is set up, presumably, teaching.
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And as we see at the end of chapter 11
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and then into the beginning of chapter 12,
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we see a number of confrontations.
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12.12, we see that as he indicts
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these apostate religious leaders,
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the text says,
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And they were seeking to arrest him,
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but feared the people,
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for they perceived that he had told the parable against them.
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So they left him and went away.
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So he's disrupting this temple worship that's going on
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and the power of these men.
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He's becoming more popular than them.
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And he's delivering indictments to them
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that's going to disrupt this place of power
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and influence and money that they're in.
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And so they're seeking to destroy him.
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This is absolutely what they're bent upon.
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But their concern is
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that the people have his...
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Or he has the people's ear.
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That he's found favor with the people.
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And so they're trying now
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to find ways to discredit him.
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And so we see in chapter 12,
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leading up to our text,
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they send a faction of Pharisees
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along with some Herodians,
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which was a political group,
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trying to trap him theologically and politically.
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They try to put him in a tough spot.
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And under inspiration from the Father,
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he makes fools of them.
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They then send to him a faction of Sadducees,
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another group of religious elite individuals
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with a theological trap.
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And once again, he makes fools of them.
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So rather than him being discredited,
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they are discredited.
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And in our text today,
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they send a scribe.
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Now, when we look at Mark 12, 28,
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the record is,
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and one of the scribes came up.
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And the scribes were kind of the
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religious scholars of the day.
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They were the learned,
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those who really poured over
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and really studied the Scriptures.
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In fact, you'll see them in places
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referred to as lawyers,
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not in that they defended it judicially,
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but that they were experts on the law.
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In the parallel text in Matthew 22,
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verse 34 and 35, it says,
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but when the Pharisees heard
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that he had silenced the Sadducees,
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they gathered together.
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So there's this meeting of the Pharisees
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and the Sadducees,
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these groups that very rarely agreed
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on much of anything at all,
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but they gather together.
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And then verse 35 says,
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and one of them, a lawyer or scribe,
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asked him a question to test him.
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So we get a little bit more
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as we look at the parallel text
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about why it was that this particular man came.
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So he heard them disputing,
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and he saw that he answered them well,
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and he said,
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but I've got a question.
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I've got a question for him
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that will stump him,
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that will discredit him.
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At the outset of this interaction,
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the scribe is not on Jesus' team,
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although it seems to shift
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as we go through our text today.
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Now, as I said,
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the Pharisees and the Sadducees
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didn't agree about much,
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but they did both esteem the law very highly.
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Both held a high degree of respect
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for the law.
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And there was a common debate amongst them
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about which law was the greatest law.
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This very question that the scribe
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is going to come and ask to Jesus.
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There was much debate about this.
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These men had little else to do
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than to sit around,
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collect people's money,
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and debate theology together.
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Shame on them and shame on us
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when we do the same.
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Rabbinical tradition holds
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that they considered there to be
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613 separate commandments
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in the Old Testament,
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many of which were hedge laws
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or those traditional things
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added to the law
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to help the Jews
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from breaking any of the laws,
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hedge laws,
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but 613 separate commandments.
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And you may ask,
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how exactly did they arrive at this
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even as they were adding
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their tradition to it?
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And the foolish thing is
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that they arrived at 613
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because there are 613 letters
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in the Hebrew of the Ten Commandments.
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Isn't that ridiculous?
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So they took the Ten Commandments,
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they counted up the number of letters,
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there are 613,
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and then they came up with 613 laws
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that they said the Scriptures taught.
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Some were, of course,
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some were not.
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248 affirmatives,
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things that should be done,
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and 365 negatives,
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one for every day of the year.
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It was rather ridiculous and foolish
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the way they had gathered
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these laws together.
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And so as I said,
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they debated often
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about the greatest law
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because they knew
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they couldn't keep the whole thing,
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right?
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Not all 613.
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They knew they were capable
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of doing this,
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of amassing enough good work
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to credit them before God.
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They knew their own frailty,
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but if they could just
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keep a couple of them,
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right?
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If we could reduce it
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to just a couple
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that are the most important,
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then maybe we can tip the scale
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in our favor.
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Maybe we can set off
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against all the other laws
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that we break.
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If we can get the couple
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that we think are most important
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right and set those
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on the good side of our scale,
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we'll find favor before God.
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This effort exists today
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in great degree,
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does it not?
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People running around
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trying to weigh out
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what is most important
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to live in society.
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And you'll hear people
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say things like,
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well, yeah,
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I think I'm a good person
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because,
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and I'll list off
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some major things,
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and they neglect
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other parts
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of God's standard.
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These people recognized
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that God had a standard,
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but they wanted to
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redefine the standard
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in a way
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that they could keep.
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But all of us,
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every single one of us,
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the great metanarrative
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of humanity
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is that we have failed
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to keep God's standard.
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In fact,
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we are incapable
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of our own power
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to do so.
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You know this to be true
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of yourself.
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If you are honest
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with yourself,
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you know that you cannot
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be a good person.
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You know how much
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bad you do.
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Even in the things
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that the world thinks
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are good,
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you know the motivation
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behind it is so often
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bad.
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If you're honest
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with yourself,
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if you're not,
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I suggest that you get
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honest with yourself.
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If you can't do that,
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if your conscience
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doesn't bear witness
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against you,
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your wife or your husband
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know how bad you are,
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how much you fail
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at holding to the standard
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of God.
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Your kids know.
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Young people,
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your parents,
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ask them,
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am I a good person?
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They will tell you
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the truth.
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Your roommate,
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your employer.
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We are all very aware
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of this reality.
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We are deluded
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and deceiving ourselves
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and others
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if we think
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that we're not.
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We think that we're
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good enough.
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And this is what
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they were about doing
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as they debated this
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and they had this
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conversation,
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this question.
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Jesus delivers
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an indictment to them
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in Mark 7,
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verses 6-8.
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Mark records,
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and he said to them,
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Well, did Isaiah
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prophesy of you hypocrites?
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As it is written,
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This people honors me
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with their lips,
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but their heart
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is far from me.
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In vain do they
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worship me,
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teaching as doctrines
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the commandments
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of men.
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You leave the commandment
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of God and hold
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to the traditions
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of men.
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So these people
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had elevated
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their own idea
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of what it meant
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to follow God.
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They were worshiping
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the right God,
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but they were
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worshiping him
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wrongly.
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And this is a serious
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matter.
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This is a serious
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issue.
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It would seem
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that they were
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so close.
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They were Jews.
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They were descendants
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of Abraham.
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And yet,
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they had totally
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become apostate.
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They had totally
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wandered away
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from the faith
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of Abraham,
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that saving
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faith.
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And so this was
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a trap,
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this question
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was.
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Because the Sadducees
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and the Pharisees
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elevated,
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believed in,
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esteemed the law,
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although it was a
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very distorted
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misunderstanding of it.
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And they held a
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particular person
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in very high regard.
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They agreed
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that Moses
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was to be held
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in high esteem.
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There was no one
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greater than Moses.
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Moses,
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the one who was
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given the Ten
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Commandments
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on the mountain,
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who met with God
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face to face,
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whose face
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shone with the glory
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of God.
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You remember
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these stories,
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right?
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Moses had a close
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encounter with God.
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They esteemed him
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very highly.
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And so,
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when the scribe
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comes to ask Jesus
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this question,
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he's setting him up
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to have authority
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over Moses
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and therefore
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discredit himself.
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Therefore,
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have the people
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not follow him
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any longer.
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Now,
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of course,
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our Lord
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perfectly
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articulates
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a response.
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And he does so
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by quoting
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from the Old Testament,
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from Deuteronomy
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and from Leviticus.
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This scribe
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was sent on behalf
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of the Pharisees
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and the Sadducees.
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The Sadducees
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relegated.
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They didn't care
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too much
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about the prophets.
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They cared primarily
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about the first
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five books
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of the Bible.
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So he quotes
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from there.
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He gives them
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an answer
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that they would
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have been very,
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very familiar
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with.
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From Deuteronomy
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6,
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4 and 5,
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which reads,
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Hear, O Israel,
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the Lord our God,
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the Lord is one.
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This is a
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restatement
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of the law.
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Just as the people
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are about to go
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and take the land
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that God had promised
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to them.
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This is a restatement
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here.
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Verse 5,
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You shall love
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the Lord your God
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with all your heart
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and with all your soul
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and with all your might.
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And then Leviticus
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19,
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18 says,
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But you shall love
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your neighbor
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as yourself.
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And these sum up
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the rest of the law.
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We'll look at that a bit
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in just a minute.
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But these are the
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great commandment
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that Jesus speaks of
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here.
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And we could spend
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months
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unpacking
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and trying to understand
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all the implications
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of this command.
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In fact,
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we will spend our lives
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endeavoring to do so.
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To see what it means
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to love God
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and to love people
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in this way
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is the great endeavor
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of the Christian life.
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I hope we'll get
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enough of it
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this morning
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to set us on
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the right trajectory.
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That we'll have in mind
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what this looks like
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so that we can continue
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to do this
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in our life.
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And we'll continue on
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next week
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in Mark.
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The greatest commandment
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is a commandment
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to love.
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Verse 31b.
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A commandment.
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Jesus says
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there is no other
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commandment.
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Singular.
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It's singular in the original.
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There is no other commandment
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greater than
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these.
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So the great commandment
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is a commandment
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to love.
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To love vertically
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God
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and to have that
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spill over
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into a horizontal love
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for others.
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Vertical and horizontal
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love.
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Because you see,
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beloved,
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what we love
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directs
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how we act.
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The affections
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of your heart
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deem
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how you'll respond
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in any given
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circumstance.
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For example,
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if you love
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Georgia football,
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you're going to
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tend to do
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certain things.
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Are you not?
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I think we all
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either are
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or know
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Georgia football
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fans.
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You'll probably
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wear something
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red and black.
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I know
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that you're going
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to put things
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on Facebook
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regarding the game.
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Why do you
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live tweet
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and Facebook
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post a game?
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If somebody
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cares about it,
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they're watching it.
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I don't need
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to know the
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play-by-play.
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I know
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what you're
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going to be doing
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on the times
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when Georgia's
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playing,
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unless somebody
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plans a wedding.
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How dare you?
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During Georgia
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football season.
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It's going to
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dictate certain
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things.
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It's what you're
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going to talk
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about.
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People are
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very aware
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of those who
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love Georgia
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football.
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The same thing
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is true of our
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children,
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isn't it?
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I've got friends
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that vented
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about how moms
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always put stuff
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on Facebook
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about their
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children.
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I can't believe
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clogging up my
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feed with all
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these pictures
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of your babies
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and now they do
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it.
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It's just so
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wonderful.
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It's so
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ironic and
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apropos that
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they're now
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doing it as
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well and it's
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because they
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love their
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kids and they
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want to share
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their kids
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with the
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world.
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I don't fault
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them or the
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Georgia football
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fans for doing
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so.
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What we love
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directs how we
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act, how we
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respond.
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If we love
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God properly,
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we will love
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people properly
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and we will
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keep the
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commandments.
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we read
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beyond Jesus'
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quote in
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Deuteronomy.
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So he quotes
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from Deuteronomy
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6, 4 and
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5.
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Deuteronomy
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6, 6
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says,
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and these
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words that I
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command you
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today shall
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be on your
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heart and it
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can also be
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very readily
16:48
translated,
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shall be in
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your heart,
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planted in
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your heart.
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speaks of a
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change in
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our hearts
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themselves.
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Not merely
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some mental
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cognition to
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the law of
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God, but
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that the law
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of God is
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within us and
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therefore we
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respond as
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we should.
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It's an
17:11
internal issue,
17:11
not merely an
17:12
external issue,
17:13
it's an
17:14
internal issue.
17:16
Jesus says it
17:17
this way,
17:18
stated in the
17:19
negative,
17:20
Mark 7,
17:21
20-23,
17:22
and he said,
17:24
what comes
17:24
out of a
17:25
person is
17:25
what defiles
17:26
him.
17:27
From within,
17:28
out of the
17:29
heart of man
17:30
come evil
17:30
thoughts,
17:31
sexual immorality,
17:32
theft,
17:33
murder,
17:34
adultery,
17:35
coveting,
17:35
wickedness,
17:36
deceit,
17:37
sensuality,
17:38
envy,
17:39
slander,
17:40
pride,
17:41
foolishness.
17:41
He covers
17:42
all the things
17:42
that would
17:43
transgress the
17:43
law.
17:44
All these
17:45
evil things
17:45
come from
17:46
within and
17:47
they defile
17:49
a person.
17:49
It's the
17:50
matter of
17:50
somebody's
17:51
heart that
17:51
makes them
17:52
wrong before
17:53
God,
17:53
that makes
17:54
them not
17:54
able to
17:55
stand in
17:55
God's
17:56
presence,
17:56
that costs
17:58
them,
17:58
that gives
17:58
to them
17:59
eternal
18:00
destruction.
18:02
And so
18:02
therefore it
18:02
has to be
18:03
in the
18:03
positive that
18:04
the other
18:04
is true,
18:04
that it
18:05
comes from
18:05
our heart,
18:06
the good
18:07
things that
18:07
God requires
18:08
of us.
18:09
Because Jesus
18:10
is stating it
18:10
here in
18:11
the positive.
18:13
Elsewhere
18:13
in the
18:14
scriptures,
18:15
John 14,
18:17
verse 21,
18:18
Jesus says,
18:19
whoever has
18:19
my commandments
18:20
and keeps
18:21
them,
18:22
he it is
18:22
who loves
18:23
me.
18:24
And he
18:24
who loves
18:24
me will
18:25
be loved
18:25
by my
18:25
Father,
18:26
and I
18:26
will love
18:26
him and
18:27
manifest
18:28
myself to
18:29
them.
18:31
1 John 2.15,
18:32
John writes
18:33
again,
18:34
do not love
18:34
the world
18:35
or the things
18:36
in the world.
18:37
If anyone
18:37
loves the
18:38
world,
18:39
the love
18:39
of the
18:39
Father is
18:40
not in
18:41
him.
18:42
And so
18:42
the adverse
18:42
is true.
18:43
If the love
18:43
of the
18:43
Father is
18:44
in you,
18:45
then you
18:45
will not
18:46
love
18:47
the world.
18:49
And this
18:50
is at the
18:50
very center
18:51
of all
18:52
of our
18:52
experience
18:53
and how
18:53
it is
18:54
we're trying
18:54
to work
18:54
out Christian
18:55
living.
18:56
It is a
18:56
matter of
18:57
our affection.
18:59
What do
19:00
we love?
19:03
Those of us
19:03
who have been
19:04
redeemed,
19:04
who have been
19:05
set free
19:05
from the
19:06
bondage of
19:06
sin,
19:07
the great
19:08
travesty
19:09
of our
19:09
sin is
19:10
that we've
19:10
been freed
19:11
from it.
19:11
We no
19:11
longer have
19:12
to.
19:13
We've been
19:13
freed to
19:14
love God,
19:14
but when we
19:15
sin,
19:15
it proves
19:16
that in
19:16
that moment
19:17
we love
19:18
the sin
19:18
more than
19:19
we love
19:20
God.
19:21
It's a
19:21
tragedy.
19:23
We do
19:23
it all
19:23
the time.
19:24
We spit
19:25
back in
19:25
the face
19:26
of the
19:26
Father
19:27
and praise
19:27
God
19:28
because of
19:28
His goodness
19:28
to us
19:29
in Christ.
19:30
He's
19:31
forbearing
19:32
and His
19:32
love is
19:33
never-ending.
19:35
Now,
19:35
the commandment
19:36
in Deuteronomy
19:37
6.5
19:37
says that
19:39
we're to
19:39
love the
19:40
Lord our
19:40
God with
19:40
all our
19:41
heart,
19:42
with all
19:42
our soul,
19:44
with all
19:44
our might.
19:45
And so
19:46
it's worth
19:46
us talking
19:47
about this.
19:48
Jesus
19:48
adds to
19:49
that with
19:50
our minds.
19:52
So in
19:53
brief,
19:54
your heart
19:55
is the
19:55
core of
19:57
who you
19:57
are.
19:58
From it
19:59
emanates
19:59
all of your
20:00
thoughts,
20:01
your words,
20:03
your actions.
20:04
It is the
20:05
very core
20:05
of your
20:06
identity.
20:09
Proverbs 4.23
20:10
says,
20:10
keep your
20:11
heart
20:11
with all
20:12
vigilance
20:13
for from
20:13
it flow
20:14
the springs
20:15
of life.
20:16
It is the
20:16
very essence
20:17
of who
20:18
you are.
20:21
Your soul
20:22
is the
20:22
seat of
20:23
your
20:23
emotions.
20:25
Matthew
20:25
26.38
20:26
Jesus says
20:27
to them,
20:28
my soul
20:29
is very
20:30
sorrowful
20:31
even to
20:32
death.
20:33
And then
20:33
He asks
20:33
them to
20:33
remain with
20:34
Him
20:34
in the
20:35
garden
20:36
to pray.
20:37
My soul
20:37
is the
20:38
place from
20:39
which emanates
20:40
our
20:41
emotions.
20:43
Our
20:44
mind,
20:44
again,
20:45
Jesus'
20:45
addition here
20:46
to the
20:46
commandment
20:46
in Deuteronomy,
20:47
our intellect,
20:48
our power
20:49
of reason,
20:50
our intention,
20:51
our purpose.
20:53
1 Kings 4.29
20:54
records that
20:55
God gave
20:56
Solomon wisdom
20:57
and understanding
20:58
beyond measure
20:59
and breadth
21:00
of mind
21:01
like the
21:02
sand on
21:03
the seashore.
21:04
He made
21:04
him able
21:05
to understand,
21:06
able to
21:06
comprehend,
21:07
able to
21:08
hold out
21:10
cognition
21:11
and logic
21:12
and to
21:12
be wise
21:14
in his
21:14
judgment
21:15
over Israel.
21:17
And then
21:17
our strength
21:18
which speaks
21:19
to our
21:19
physical
21:19
energy.
21:21
In Deuteronomy
21:21
it's translated
21:22
our might.
21:24
That physical
21:25
energy that we
21:25
have,
21:26
the way in
21:26
which we
21:26
get up
21:27
and the
21:27
way that
21:28
we act,
21:29
the way
21:29
that we
21:29
carry out.
21:30
It's
21:30
every bit
21:32
of us.
21:32
These are
21:33
all the
21:33
components
21:34
that make
21:34
up a
21:35
human being.
21:36
Our heart,
21:36
our soul,
21:37
our mind.
21:37
our strength.
21:40
And before
21:41
each one of
21:41
these in
21:41
the original
21:42
language,
21:43
we see the
21:43
little phrase
21:44
all of
21:45
your,
21:45
all of
21:46
your heart
21:46
and all
21:47
of your
21:47
soul
21:47
and all
21:49
of your
21:49
mind
21:49
and all
21:50
of your
21:50
strength.
21:52
And the
21:52
original
21:53
doesn't say
21:53
with all
21:54
of your
21:55
heart,
21:55
soul,
21:55
mind,
21:56
and strength.
21:56
It puts
21:56
the emphasis
21:57
and puts
21:59
it before
21:59
the phrase
21:59
before each
22:00
one of
22:01
these
22:01
nouns
22:02
to say
22:02
every
22:03
single
22:03
bit.
22:04
All of
22:04
your heart,
22:05
all of
22:05
your soul,
22:06
all of
22:06
your mind,
22:06
all of
22:07
your strength.
22:07
We're not
22:07
to be
22:08
divided
22:08
in any
22:08
way,
22:09
but we're
22:09
to be
22:09
completely
22:10
devoted
22:11
in our
22:11
affection
22:12
to the
22:13
Lord.
22:15
John
22:15
MacArthur
22:16
said it
22:16
this way,
22:16
so the
22:17
intellectual,
22:18
emotional,
22:19
volitional,
22:20
and physical
22:21
elements of
22:21
personhood all
22:22
combine to
22:23
love the
22:24
one true
22:24
God.
22:25
It is an
22:26
intelligent
22:26
love.
22:27
It is an
22:27
emotional
22:28
love.
22:28
It is a
22:29
willing love.
22:30
And it is an
22:30
active love.
22:32
It is an
22:32
all-consuming
22:34
love.
22:37
This is the
22:37
way we are
22:38
to love
22:39
the Father.
22:40
Part of
22:40
the greatest
22:41
commandment.
22:44
How do
22:44
we do
22:45
that?
22:46
How is
22:46
this
22:47
possible?
22:49
Those of
22:49
us who
22:49
were once
22:50
enemies of
22:51
God have
22:52
now been
22:52
made His
22:53
friends by
22:53
the power
22:54
of the
22:54
gospel.
22:55
Our
22:55
hearts
22:56
have been
22:57
made new.
22:58
He is
22:58
redeeming
22:59
our
22:59
emotions
23:00
and our
23:01
mind.
23:03
We are
23:03
now capable
23:04
of being
23:04
set free
23:05
from sin
23:05
to live
23:06
to Him,
23:07
to live
23:07
to righteousness
23:08
by our
23:09
strength.
23:11
The natural
23:12
response of
23:13
the redeemed
23:14
soul is to
23:15
love the
23:15
one that
23:17
redeemed
23:17
Him.
23:20
So we
23:20
love God
23:21
because of
23:21
the gospel.
23:23
Verse 31,
23:25
the second
23:25
is this.
23:27
That was the
23:28
vertical element
23:29
of this
23:29
love,
23:30
affection set
23:31
on God.
23:31
The second
23:31
is this.
23:32
You shall
23:32
love your
23:33
neighbor as
23:34
yourself.
23:36
You shall
23:36
love your
23:36
neighbor as
23:37
yourself.
23:38
It shall
23:38
flow out
23:39
for your
23:40
love for
23:40
God to
23:41
other people
23:42
as well.
23:43
And your
23:44
neighbor is
23:44
anybody that
23:45
you encounter.
23:45
So don't
23:46
think we're
23:46
just merely
23:46
talking about
23:47
the person
23:47
who shares
23:48
a property
23:48
line or
23:49
a wall in
23:50
your dorm
23:50
or apartment.
23:51
This is
23:52
anybody that
23:52
you encounter.
23:53
It's those
23:53
people that
23:54
you work
23:54
with.
23:55
It's those
23:55
people that
23:55
ring you up
23:56
at the
23:56
places that
23:57
you buy
23:57
your groceries.
23:58
It's the
23:58
server,
23:59
server that
23:59
serves you,
24:00
that you
24:00
tip so
24:01
poorly.
24:03
Love these
24:04
people.
24:05
Love these
24:05
people.
24:06
Romans 13,
24:08
8 and
24:09
10,
24:10
Paul writes,
24:11
O no one
24:12
anything except
24:14
to love each
24:16
other.
24:17
For the one
24:17
who loves
24:18
another has
24:18
fulfilled the
24:20
law.
24:20
Isn't that
24:21
interesting?
24:22
Paul understood
24:23
the greatest
24:23
command.
24:24
For the one
24:24
who loves
24:24
another has
24:25
fulfilled the
24:26
law.
24:26
For the
24:27
commandments,
24:28
you shall
24:28
not commit
24:29
adultery,
24:30
you shall
24:30
not murder,
24:31
you shall
24:31
not steal,
24:32
you shall
24:32
not covet,
24:33
and any
24:34
other
24:34
commandment
24:35
are summed
24:36
up in
24:36
this word.
24:37
You shall
24:38
love your
24:38
neighbor as
24:39
yourself.
24:40
The last
24:40
four of the
24:41
ten commandments
24:41
he says are
24:42
summed up by
24:43
this and
24:43
any other
24:44
commandment,
24:45
any other
24:45
commandment
24:46
that is about
24:47
us relating
24:47
to one
24:48
another are
24:48
summed up
24:49
in the word.
24:50
You shall
24:50
love your
24:50
neighbor as
24:52
yourself.
24:53
Verse 10,
24:53
love does
24:54
no wrong
24:55
to a
24:55
neighbor,
24:56
therefore love
24:57
is the
24:57
fulfilling of
24:59
the law.
25:01
Paul wrote
25:01
again in
25:02
Galatians 5
25:03
14,
25:03
for the
25:03
whole law
25:04
is fulfilled
25:05
in one
25:06
word,
25:07
you shall
25:07
love your
25:07
neighbor as
25:09
yourself.
25:11
And then
25:11
James writes
25:12
in chapter 2
25:12
verse 8,
25:13
the book of
25:14
James,
25:14
if you really
25:15
fulfill the
25:16
royal law
25:16
according to
25:17
the scripture,
25:18
you shall
25:18
love your
25:18
neighbor as
25:19
yourself.
25:20
You are
25:21
doing well.
25:24
How do we
25:25
love our
25:26
neighbor?
25:28
We love
25:29
our neighbors
25:30
sacrificially,
25:32
in practical
25:32
ways.
25:34
We empty
25:35
ourselves of
25:36
our self
25:36
determination,
25:38
our own
25:39
self glorification.
25:40
If we properly
25:41
love God,
25:42
if we are
25:42
humble before
25:43
Him,
25:43
we recognize
25:44
that this is
25:44
not a proper
25:45
thing for the
25:46
one who
25:46
worships God
25:47
to do,
25:47
and we serve
25:48
our neighbor
25:49
sacrificially.
25:51
We find
25:51
ways in
25:52
which we
25:52
can serve
25:53
them that
25:54
no one
25:54
else would
25:54
do.
25:55
We lay
25:56
down our
25:56
lives for
25:57
the sake
25:57
of their
25:58
lives.
25:59
And we
26:00
do this so
26:00
that we
26:01
can preach
26:01
the gospel
26:02
to them.
26:03
So that we
26:03
can give
26:03
them the
26:04
great solution
26:05
to their
26:05
major problem.
26:06
Remember
26:07
meta-narrative
26:08
problem.
26:08
We come
26:08
and we
26:09
fix the
26:09
little
26:09
problems.
26:10
We're
26:10
there as
26:11
a shoulder
26:11
to cry
26:12
on,
26:12
but then
26:13
we need
26:13
to give
26:14
them
26:14
Jesus.
26:16
So the
26:16
greatest
26:16
way that
26:17
you can
26:17
love
26:17
anybody,
26:18
fill their
26:19
belly,
26:19
and then fill
26:20
their soul.
26:21
Matthew 22,
26:24
40,
26:24
Jesus says,
26:25
on these
26:25
two commandments,
26:27
this is the
26:27
parallel text,
26:28
depend all
26:29
the law
26:30
and the
26:31
prophets.
26:33
It's
26:33
fulfilled in
26:34
all of
26:35
this,
26:35
this vertical
26:36
access of
26:37
affection towards
26:37
God and
26:38
the horal
26:39
access of
26:40
it as
26:41
well.
26:42
And then
26:43
verse 32
26:44
of chapter
26:44
12 of
26:44
Mark.
26:46
The
26:47
scribe seems
26:47
to be a
26:48
bit open-minded
26:49
as he comes
26:50
to him,
26:50
to test
26:51
him,
26:52
is very
26:53
pleased with
26:53
his answer
26:54
because he
26:55
repeats it
26:55
back.
26:57
The
26:57
scribe said
26:57
to him,
26:58
you are
26:58
right,
26:58
teacher,
26:59
you have
26:59
truly said
27:00
that he
27:01
is one.
27:01
We know
27:02
we're
27:02
worshiping
27:02
the right
27:03
God
27:03
together,
27:04
this God
27:05
that is
27:05
one.
27:06
There is
27:06
no other
27:07
besides
27:08
him.
27:09
And to
27:09
love him
27:09
with all
27:09
the heart,
27:10
with all
27:10
the understanding,
27:11
and with all
27:11
the strength,
27:12
and to love
27:12
one's neighbor
27:13
as oneself
27:13
is much
27:14
more than
27:14
all whole
27:15
burnt
27:15
offerings
27:16
and sacrifices,
27:17
he understands
27:18
that this
27:20
commandment is
27:21
greater than
27:21
all of the
27:22
temple worship
27:22
that was
27:23
going on
27:24
in this
27:24
day,
27:25
all of the
27:25
religious
27:26
practice
27:26
that was
27:27
happening.
27:28
And then
27:28
Jesus'
27:29
response,
27:30
when Jesus
27:30
saw that
27:31
he answered
27:32
wisely,
27:33
said to
27:33
him,
27:34
you are
27:35
not far
27:35
from the
27:37
kingdom of
27:37
God.
27:38
And then
27:38
Mark records
27:38
for us
27:39
that they
27:39
stop asking
27:40
questions,
27:41
and Jesus
27:41
spends the
27:42
rest of
27:42
Wednesday
27:43
teaching,
27:44
telling them
27:45
rather than
27:46
being on
27:46
the defense,
27:47
he's now
27:47
on the
27:48
offense in
27:49
the rest of
27:49
this chapter
27:50
and a bit
27:50
beyond that.
27:52
But he
27:52
says to
27:53
this scribe,
27:54
you are
27:54
not far
27:55
from the
27:56
kingdom of
27:57
God.
27:58
And this
27:59
gives me
27:59
some encouragement
28:00
for this
28:01
scribe's soul.
28:02
We don't get
28:03
a record of
28:03
what happens
28:04
to him.
28:04
He's nameless
28:05
in our text,
28:06
and he is in
28:06
all the parallel
28:07
texts as well.
28:08
I hope that
28:09
he got it.
28:10
I hope that
28:10
he witnessed
28:11
the crucifixion,
28:13
that he heard
28:14
of the
28:14
resurrection,
28:15
and he placed
28:15
believing faith
28:16
in Jesus
28:17
Christ,
28:17
but we
28:17
don't know.
28:18
But we
28:18
can say
28:18
this from
28:19
our text,
28:20
that not
28:20
far is
28:21
not good
28:23
enough.
28:24
Not far
28:25
from the
28:25
kingdom is
28:26
not in
28:27
the kingdom.
28:27
It wasn't
28:28
good enough
28:29
at this
28:30
point in
28:31
our text.
28:32
My dad,
28:33
all of my
28:33
life growing
28:34
up,
28:35
would say,
28:36
close only
28:36
counts in
28:38
horseshoes
28:38
and hand
28:39
grenades.
28:40
It's a
28:40
familiar phrase
28:41
to some of
28:41
you, I
28:41
can tell.
28:42
Close only
28:43
counts in
28:44
horseshoes,
28:44
hand
28:45
grenades.
28:45
It doesn't
28:45
count in
28:46
the kingdom
28:46
of God.
28:47
There's not
28:47
a measure.
28:49
We don't
28:49
vary in
28:50
degree.
28:51
We're good
28:51
enough to
28:52
get into
28:52
the kingdom
28:53
of God.
28:53
You either
28:54
are in
28:54
the kingdom
28:54
of God
28:55
or you
28:55
are not
28:56
in the
28:57
kingdom
28:57
of God.
28:58
You
28:58
either are
28:59
under God's
29:00
rule over
29:01
your life
29:01
because of
29:02
what Christ
29:02
has done on
29:03
your behalf.
29:03
God has
29:04
worked a
29:04
faith in
29:05
you that
29:05
you would
29:05
believe in
29:06
him and
29:06
he has
29:06
changed
29:07
you.
29:07
He's made
29:08
you a new
29:08
creation.
29:09
You are now
29:09
a citizen of
29:10
his kingdom,
29:11
no longer
29:11
his enemy,
29:12
but his
29:13
friend,
29:13
adopted as
29:14
a son,
29:14
redeemed,
29:15
you've been
29:15
bought with
29:16
a price.
29:16
That's either
29:17
true of
29:17
you or
29:19
it's not.
29:21
And at
29:21
this point,
29:22
this is the
29:22
case for
29:23
this man.
29:24
He had
29:24
the wisdom
29:25
to give a
29:26
wise answer,
29:27
but that
29:28
wasn't enough.
29:30
It wasn't
29:30
enough for
29:31
him just to
29:31
know the
29:32
truth and
29:33
give some
29:33
assent to
29:34
it in
29:34
his mind.
29:35
He had
29:36
to give
29:36
all of
29:37
himself,
29:38
pick up
29:38
his cross,
29:40
and follow
29:41
Jesus
29:42
Christ.
29:43
I hope
29:43
he did.
29:45
And I
29:45
hope that
29:46
all of
29:46
us in
29:46
this room
29:47
today are
29:48
doing the
29:50
same.
29:50
We must
29:51
enter the
29:52
kingdom of
29:52
God by
29:53
faith in
29:54
the completed
29:55
work of
29:55
Christ on
29:57
our behalf.
29:58
This man
29:59
recognizes that
30:00
it's an
30:01
internal issue.
30:02
That's to
30:02
his credit.
30:03
He gets
30:03
that it's an
30:04
internal issue
30:04
with his
30:05
mind.
30:06
He's yet to
30:07
be changed
30:07
internally.
30:11
We have
30:11
much to
30:12
praise God
30:12
for if
30:13
this is
30:13
true of
30:14
us.
30:16
Of all
30:16
the men
30:17
of Israel,
30:19
these scribes
30:19
should have
30:20
most understood,
30:21
most gotten
30:22
the scriptures.
30:24
They were
30:24
much smarter
30:25
than any
30:26
of us
30:26
in this
30:27
room.
30:29
But yet,
30:29
the truth
30:30
of God
30:30
had not
30:31
been revealed
30:31
to them.
30:32
Praise God
30:33
that he's
30:33
revealed his
30:34
truth to
30:34
simple minds
30:35
like mine.
30:37
That he
30:37
has rent
30:38
my heart.
30:39
He has
30:39
changed it.
30:41
From an
30:42
old heart.
30:42
A stony
30:43
heart.
30:44
A heart
30:44
that was
30:45
bent against
30:45
him and
30:46
set it in
30:47
his direction.
30:48
We have
30:49
much to
30:49
praise him
30:49
for.
30:51
If you
30:51
are not
30:51
found in
30:52
Christ,
30:53
if you
30:53
find yourself
30:54
relating to
30:55
these Pharisees
30:57
and Sadducees,
30:57
to these
30:58
scribes,
30:58
trying to
30:59
figure out
30:59
what are
31:00
the weightier
31:00
matters,
31:01
what things
31:02
must I
31:02
make sure
31:03
I'm doing
31:03
well to
31:04
earn favor
31:04
with God,
31:06
then I
31:06
would ask
31:06
that you
31:07
recognize
31:07
that nothing,
31:08
nothing earns
31:11
you favor
31:11
with God
31:12
except the
31:12
completed work
31:13
of Christ
31:14
on your
31:15
behalf.
31:16
He took
31:17
your place
31:18
on the
31:18
cross.
31:19
The song
31:19
Mercy that
31:20
Wes sang
31:20
was about
31:21
that.
31:22
He hung
31:23
on your
31:24
tree,
31:25
on your
31:26
behalf,
31:27
took the
31:28
wrath of
31:28
God for
31:28
your sin.
31:29
Those things
31:29
you've done,
31:30
those things
31:30
you're doing
31:31
even now,
31:32
and those
31:32
things you
31:33
will do,
31:33
this completed
31:34
work,
31:35
it is
31:35
finished.
31:37
If you
31:37
would just
31:37
believe in
31:38
Him.
31:39
Let's pray
31:40
together.