Caught In The Middle
Lesson 1

Lesson One

God's Priorities

Texts: Isaiah 55:6-11; Mark 12:28-34

By the time of Jesus' life, the Jewish scribes declared that the law (the Torah) contained 613 commandments of which 248 were positive and 365 were negative. A "hot button" topic of discussion among the Jewish people was, "Which commandment is the most important commandment from God?"

The last week of Jesus' life on earth illustrates what a "hot, controversial" topic this question was among the Jewish people. After Jesus raised Lazarus from death, Jesus' popularity with the Jewish people was rapidly rising. The Jewish leaders were desperate to separate Jesus from his popular acceptance (see John 11:47-53).

A part of their plan was to reduce Jesus' popularity. To do this, religious leaders selected controversial topics to use to question Jesus. These topics were calculated to result in discussions that would disillusion Jesus' following. The topics were to cause Jesus to be self incriminating. The Pharisees asked, "Is it correct to pay taxes to the Roman ruler?" (See Matthew 22:15-22.) Jesus responded, "Give to the Roman ruler what is his, and to God what is His." The Sadducees, who did not believe in an afterlife, questioned Jesus about the validity of resurrection. (See Matthew 22:23-33.) Jesus proved from scripture they accepted that they misunderstood scripture. Then a lawyer (an expert in Jewish law or Torah law--religious law) asked him what was the most important commandment God gave.

Please note this: in controversial issues that were calculated to separate Jesus from his popularity was the question about the most important command. That question (about the most important command) ranked in controversial nature with paying the hated Roman tax and existence in the afterlife.

In all three questions, Jesus answered. Regarding God's greatest commandment, Jesus said #1 was to love God with your entire being (see Deuteronomy 6:4, 5) and #2 was loving your neighbor as yourself (see Leviticus 19:17, 18). He said everything instructed in the Law and the writings of the Prophets occurred if these two things were true.

Jesus did not say the question about the greatest command was ridiculous. His answer recognized some instructions from God were superior to others. There was a number one and a number two. One and two were the foundation for all the rest of the commands. One would not rebel against God in other instructions if he or she loved God with his or her whole being and loved people. A proper attitude toward God and people would produce a life that was compliant to God's instructions.

The first recorded expression of God's laws is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Jesus' emphasis reflects the general emphasis of those commands. The first emphasis (the first four commands) focus on honoring God. The second emphasis (the last six commands) focus on honoring people. Everything (all the commands) flow from loving God and loving people.

In Matthew 5 (the first chapter of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount), Jesus focused on the meaning of loving people. By this time in Jewish history it was understood in "faithful" Jewish society that there was one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and that any semblance of idolatry was "opening the door" to alienation from Him. However, people could be exploited and abused if it was done "in the right way." Jesus emphasized that they did not understand God's intent.

In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus warned that they must not confuse the practice of accepted religious expressions with honoring God if they used those expressions to advance their personal reputations. There is a difference between honoring God in what you do and seeking religious praise for yourself. He closed his sermon by contrasting hearing with doing and taking action in your own life.

Much later (after Jesus' crucifixion), the Christian Paul wrote: Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8-10).

There is no disconnect between God's early emphasis to the nation of Israel and His emphasis to Christians in every nation. First, God is to be honored as the Creator God who brought us into being physically and spiritually. He alone is the living God. He is not to be considered an idol or to be considered in competition with anything else people regard to be a deity. Second, people are to be loved. Love is expressed by # 1 doing what is in their best interest and # 2 treating them as you wish to be treated.

The fact that God is our God will be reflected in how we live and the purpose of our lives. We will not restrict God to a geographical place, one particular day, and a set of traditional acts and forms. It is in our behavior that our dependence on God is evident. Surely, we will worship and glorify God. However, it is in our behavior that it is evident that we love God, and we love people.

For Thought and Discussion

  1. What "hot button" topic existed among first century Jewish people about commandments?

  2. How does the last week of Jesus' earthly life illustrate the question about commandments was a "hot button" topic?

  3. Are some of God's commandments more important than others? Explain your answer.

  4. What will a proper attitude toward God and people produce?

  5. What was the first recorded expression of God's laws?

  6. What did Jesus emphasize in Matthew 5?

  7. What did Jesus emphasize in Matthew 6:1-18?

  8. What did Paul emphasize about the Jewish law in Romans 13:8-10?

  9. In what way is there no disconnect between God's early emphasis to Israel and God's emphasis to Christians in every nation?

  10. How is love for people expressed?

  11. How do we express love for God and love for people?


Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 1

Copyright © 2007, 2008
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ


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