Mark 12:28-34 - For the love of Shema

~Tuesday of Holy Week~ 

The Scribe Stood to Tempt Jesus {James Tissot}

Long before His crucifixion, the religious leaders and experts were conspiring to kill Jesus, but didn't really have any solid evidence to convict him, even according to Jewish law. In the last few days before He was crucified, they were still trying to trick him into saying something--anything--incriminating. Every time, Jesus proved Himself wise and astute.

Finally, one of the experts in the Law of Moses asked Jesus,
28 “ ...'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?' 
29 Jesus replied, 'The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” 31 The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.' 
32 The teacher of religious law replied, 'Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.' 
34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, 'You are not far from the Kingdom of God.' And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.”
(Mark 12:28–34, New Living Translation)

How can this be a trick question? Who would disagree that we should:
(1) Love God and (2) Love People?

Earlier, "the Jews were seeking ...to kill [Jesus], because He... was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18, New American Standard 1995) This would violate Jewish monotheism, that there is only one God.

When the scribe asked Jesus to recite the most important commandment, he knew the opening line of the Jewish Shema:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4, NASB95) 

Perhaps the scribe hoped Jesus would somehow trip up over that introduction, but Jesus quoted it perfectly. The scribe was forced to admit, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.”

Why is this so important? If He wasn't God as He claimed, (1) He was a liar or lunatic, (2) He had no authority to forgive sins; no power to rise from the dead to prove His divinity. Being a nice guy or a martyr wouldn't do.

And if Jesus can't forgive my sins, I'd be wallowing in guilt. (1 Corinthians 15:17) 

Thank you, God, that You “loved the world so much that, that You gave Your only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NASB95) Teach us to love you, to love others, and to trust Jesus, in whose name we pray, Amen.