Subject: Sermon will be taught on thi answer |
Bible Note: Hi, Gordon... The first part of this command implies that we must have the Lord as our God ("love the Lord thy God"). If the Lord is our God then we have nothing that holds sway over us that is greater. Not our lives, our possessions, our families, our nation, our culture, our reputation, our pleasure, our philosophies, nor any of the myriad things that man so easily idolizes. To love the Lord as our God is to love Him as our Creator, Sovereign, Ruler, Owner, Judge, and Savior. This kind of relationship can only be experienced by the regenerate. Jesus adds the word "mind," which is not found in the original command of Deuteronomy 6:5. (To the Hebrew speaker, as to the English speaker, the word "heart" is sufficient. However, to the Greek speaker it was necessary to add "mind." ) By such we understand it to mean our thoughts, plans, judgments, discernments (i.e., the things of the mind), and our choices, actions, decisions (i.e., the things of the will), and our longings, desires, revulsions, imaginations, feelings (i.e., the things of the affections). We further understand it to include our sense of right and wrong; in other words, that which approves or condemns our mind, will, and affections (i.e., the conscience). The words "soul" and "might" further emphasize that this love must be expressed from the very center of our being, body, and life -- nothing wanting and nothing left outside of is sufficient. It is to love Him with every ounce of strength we possess even to our last dying breath. Although we can and must cooperate with all that God does within us, we cannot muster this kind of love. God must perform a mighty work in His own, for by nature, we our lovers of self. There's my mini-sermon on the answer. In Him, Doc |