This chapter has the great "SHEMA" – still considered a key confession of faith and included in their morning and evening prayer services. It is significant for Christians because our Lord Jesus quotes it as the "first and great commandment" (πρώτη καὶ μεγάλη ἐντολή), Mt. 22:37. Then he adds, "And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus is actually citing Deut. 6:4 and Lev. 19:18 as the two commandments that summarize the entirety of the law: "On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Mt. 22:40) Several Jewish writings summarized the commandments similarly.
Verses 4, 5 therefore are important, an important summary of how we are to relate to God. Let me offer a simple outline of the THREE points I wish to cover today. ONE GOD, OUR GOD, LOVE GOD. 1. One God 2. Our God 3. Love God • ALL: "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might". Not someone else's, but all of you. ["Yes, we're a Christian couple. I'm not on fire like my wife; I go to church not as much as she does but we are both committed Christians."] • Not divided — I love him as much as I love the Celtics in basketball. • Not half-hearted — I love him somewhat. Trying to make it more central but for now, I'm somewhat committed – shouldn't expect a lot from me! • Not partial — I love him with my mind but not with my entire soul. They'll show up for church but their heart runs after the world.
WHY LOVE GOD? Because He redeemed us through Jesus Christ. Made us His people. Why shouldn't we love him?
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
Dr. Mark Herzer has been the pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church (P.C.A.) in Warminster, PA since 1997. Before this, he was ordained to labor as an Assistant Pastor of Korean United Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (1992-1995). He received his M.A.R. and Ph. D....
