Getting back to the basics
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: Getting back to the basics, to love God with one's entire being and to love the neighbor as oneself.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Ruth 1:1--18 (C)
This story, known by even the biblically illiterate, finds its setting during the time of the judges. Elimelech and his wife Naomi migrate to Moab, probably for economic reasons, where they settle. Their two sons marry Moabite wives. During the course of time, all of the men in Naomi's family die. She hears that there is food in the land of her origin and decides to return to her roots. Ruth and her two daughters--in--law start trekking back to Judah but Naomi has second thoughts about her daughters--in--law returning with her. Thinking that they would be better off in their own country, she instructs them to go back to the homes of their origin. Orpah tearfully parts from Naomi but Ruth refuses to leave and vows to accompany her until death. This text provides a classic story of friendship and loyalty.
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 6:2--6 (RC); Deuteronomy 6:1--9 (E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 9:11--14 (C)
The author of Hebrews continues his comparison of the ministry of Christ with that of the Jewish religion. This lection compares the earthly religious sanctuary, where priests offered repeated sacrifices, to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ offered his own blood, in atonement for the sins of humanity. The purpose of sacrifice was to purify but the sacrifices of the Jewish religion were not intended to remove the contagion of willful sin but to cleanse a person from an unintentional sin or from breaking a taboo, such as touching a dead body. The sacrifice of Christ removes more than a ceremonial impurity, it removes the moral adulteration of our soul; "...how much more will the blood of Christ purify our conscience from dead works..." (v. 14). Cleansed by Christ's blood, we can worship God freely.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 7:23--28 (RC, E)
(See Proper 25)
Gospel: Mark 12:28--34 (C, RC, E)
Jesus finds himself in a lively dispute with the scribes, who interpreted the oral law. A particular scribe steps from the fringes of the debating party and asks Jesus which commandment is the "first of all." Jesus answers with the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4--9), "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord..." but links to it the commandment to love one's neighbor as yourself. The scribe agreed with Jesus' response, which showed that he wasn't there just to justify his own position but to find the truth; he adds to what Jesus has brought forth the prophetic observation that such love is better than sacrifice. Jesus respected the man's integrity and told him that he was not far from the kingdom of God. The opposition fell silent.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 146 (C) - "I will praise the Lord as long as I live" (v. 2).
Psalm 119:1--16 (E)
Psalm 17 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
God of grace, remove from our lives all that distracts us from that which is ultimate and foundational; that is, to love you body and soul and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In the great name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Ruth 1:1--18
Widow's might. The story of Ruth is a saga of a widow's strength and determination. Not that Naomi envisioned going off on her own; after all, she had decided to reconnect with her family and her homeland. Nevertheless, she didn't want to encumber her daughters--in--law, urging them to return to their families. She had the confidence to take what life gave her and move on. Ruth also was a widow who showed great strength of character, refusing to part with Naomi.
Finding security (v. 9). Naomi ordered Orpah and Ruth to return to their ancestral homes in order to find security. Being connected with a family was a person's only security, especially for women. Orpah realized this and opted for security rather than a life of uncertainty with Naomi. Ruth, on the other hand, made security secondary to the loyalty and love she felt for Naomi. Love empowers a person to take risks.
Love that sticks (v. 14). "Orpah kissed her mother--in--law but Ruth clung to her." Both women truly loved Naomi; the thought of severing the relationship pulled at their heart strings. Ruth's love was superior because it transcended emotion, it was a total commitment of herself to the older woman. It was truly a love that stuck.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 9:11--14
Priest of the past and present (v. 11). This verse is translated by some authorities: "Christ came as the high priest of the good things that have come" but other interpreters translate it "are to come." I like to think that Christ is the mediator and priest of the good things in both the past and the future. He is our eternal high priest.
The new and improved high priest (vv. 13--14). Manufacturers are always touting their products as being new and improved. The writer of Hebrews makes the same claim for Christ. The old priestly system could cleanse a person ceremonially, so that he could join in the community worship, but the sacrifice of Christ cleanses us in every way, so that we can stand eternally in God's presence.
Gospel: Mark 12:28--34
A pair of imperatives. Jesus summarized what God expected out of his people with a pair of imperatives. To love God and to love our neighbor is a command. The principles upon which the moral universe runs are not negotiable. They are commands! To love the Lord and the neighbor have little to do with feelings and everything to do with obedience.
Theological consensus. The scribe and Jesus reached theological consensus and Jesus informed the man that he was not far from the kingdom of God. Theological consensus is good because theology is a road map that tells us which streets are dead ends and which streets lead us to eternal life. However, we do not inherit eternal life merely by knowing the truth but only by living the truth. Too many theologically astute scholars equate knowledge of God with the experience of God.
Close only counts in horseshoes. Jesus told the scribe that he was not far from the kingdom of God (v. 34) but he didn't say that close was good enough. Let's say that a person is caught in a blizzard and he thinks he knows where home is but isn't sure. After wandering a long time, he lies down to rest and never wakes up. His family finds him the next day; he was only 100 feet from home, within a stone's throw of safety. His family wouldn't take comfort in the fact that he was so close to home; this fact would only increase their anguish. Being just outside heaven's gates is still outside.
The unitive principle (v. 29). In answer to the scribe's inquiry, Jesus repeats the prime article of Jewish faith, the Shema, which states that the Lord is ONE, the essence of God is not to be divided or separated. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength" (v. 30). Our love of God must remain whole and focused. Not only is God "one" but our love for God and our neighbor are also connected. You can't love one without the other. Our love of God and of mankind flow from the same river.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Ruth 1:1--18
Sermon Title: Three Strikes And She's Not Out
Sermon Angle: Naomi had three tremendous strikes against her during the decade she sojourned in the land of Moab. One by one, she was bereft of her husband and her two sons. Did she go back to the bench and cry about the unfairness of the game of life? No, she kept on swinging. She was not a quitter and neither was Ruth.
Outline:
1. In baseball, three strikes and you're out. Some are proposing the same rule for those who commit crimes.
2. Naomi had three strikes against her but kept on swinging.
3. Faith in God keeps us swinging when life throws us strikes.
Sermon Title: Linked For Life
Sermon Angle: The philosophy of our time suggests that strength is demonstrated when the solitary individual asserts himself against the world. The Bible teaches that strength comes through relationships. Ruth might have figured that she would have been better off not to be saddled with an old woman in a strange land. Ruth was determined to link her life to her mother--in--law's for life. Love links us to other people, it links us to life. The bond of love is the source of our strength.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 9:11--14
Sermon Title: Once And For All
Sermon Angle: This passage speaks of the tent (tabernacle) and the Holy Place, which was contained in the tabernacle. The tent referred to is the body of Christ, the Holy Place is the cross, where Christ shed his blood and offered his life for the sins of the world. Christ entered once and for all into this Holy Place (v. 12). The work of salvation is complete, except that we must appropriate Christ's sacrifice for ourselves. We don't ever have to doubt our salvation; it's been accomplished once and for all.
Outline:
1. The sacrifices of the Jewish religion did not completely purge sin and had to be repeated.
2. The high priest would go into the Holy Place in the temple once a year to offer sacrifices for his sins and those of the people.
3. Jesus went to the Holy Place (the cross) once and for all (v. 12).
- His sacrifice is good for all time and for all people.
4. Let us worship and live confidently because we are covered by Christ's sacrifice.
Sermon Title: Christianity Is A Bloody Religion
Sermon Angle: The cross and sacrifice are at the heart of the Christian faith. Ours is a bloody religion. Christianity is not the first to stress the importance of blood sacrifice but is the only religion that claims that, in some mysterious way, God offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. The writer of Hebrews stresses the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over those of the Jewish faith but there are those who would like to have us throw out this whole bloody business. They would have us sanitize the Christian faith and present Jesus as only a prophet or teacher. The arguments made in Hebrews may seem strange and archaic to modern ears.
Gospel: Mark 12:28--34
Sermon Title: He Asked The Right Question
Sermon Angle: A lot of problems and misunderstandings stem from the fact that often we don't ask the right question, the question that hones in on the target. Jesus found himself in a theological dispute with a bunch of scribes, which apparently was going nowhere until a wise scribe put forth the right question. He inquired as to the identity of the principle of truth from which all others derive. "Which commandment is the first of all?" (v. 28). Jesus answered that question, the scribe agreed and there was no more discussion (v. 34). Today, many people are asking the wrong questions, such as "How can I find happiness?" Only when we ask the right question will we receive the right answers. The rest is up to us.
Outline:
1. In the theological debate, the scribes were not asking the key question.
2. The scribe who asked Jesus to define the "first commandment" brought the discussion to a resolution.
3. What is the question that guides your life?
4. Is your life guided by your desires or God's imperatives?
__________
For fourteen centuries astronomers were all asking the wrong question: "How do the sun and the planets revolve around the earth?" No one thought that the question itself might be wrong until a man by the name of Copernicus came along. Without any proof, he posited that it was likely that the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun. For raising this novel question, he was condemned as a heretic by the Church.
For two decades, a professor of law put this equation on the chalkboard:
3
2
He would inquire: "What's the solution?" A hand would raise. "One." A voice would then chime in, "Five." The professor would not acknowledge these responses. Finally, someone would call out the final possibility. "Six." The teacher would shake his head disapprovingly and state: "None of you have raised the key question: What is the problem?" Without posing the right question, a person cannot expect to come up with the correct answer.
__________
The fable is told of the lion who thought very highly of himself but seemed to need his ego massaged by the other beasts in the jungle. The lion came upon a little mouse and roared, "Who's the king of the jungle?" "You are!" he squeaked. Next the lion crossed paths with a baboon. "Who's the king of the jungle?" he bellowed. "You are!" hooted the baboon. Finally, he came across an elephant. "Who's the king of the jungle?" The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the elephant picked him up, twirled him around his head and set him flying like a frisbee. The lion landed with a terrible thud, fifty feet away. The lion, dazed and shaken, rose slowly to his feet. "You didn't have to blow your top just because you didn't know the answer to the question."
Sermon Title: Give Your Whole Offering
Sermon Angle: The commandment which Jesus described as of first importance uses the Greek word holos (whole, complete) repeatedly. "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind and your whole strength," states Jesus. The scribe repeats these words in his reiteration of the commands but adds that to love God wholly is better than whole burnt offerings. This means that to offer up our lives completely as a sacrifice of worship is superior to giving to God a costly object through liturgical worship. Giving to God your whole offering doesn't mean to give your tithe but your whole being to God. That's what's of first importance.
Outline:
1. Are you holding back on your offering to the Lord? No, I don't mean your tithe, I mean your body, your life.
2. Jesus indicates that our first duty is to love God with our whole heart, whole soul, whole mind and whole strength.
3. The scribe added that loving God wholly is better than generous liturgical offering (v. 33).
4. Have you given God your whole life?
Sermon Title: Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Sermon Angle: There were two contradictory tendencies among the ancient Jewish rabbis. On the one hand, they would add a host of interpreting rules and precepts to the major laws. On the other hand, there was a tendency to distill the commands down to their essence. Jesus felt most comfortable with the latter tendency. He felt that many of the laws of the Pharisees and the scribes were burdensome. Because of this, he issued his gracious invitation found in Matthew 11:28--30. A cardinal rule for journalism is "Keep it simple, stupid!" When we communicate that faith, we must abide by the same admonition. The precept to love God with everything we are and our neighbor as ourselves is eminently simple to comprehend, yet profoundly difficult to carry out. Only those who are possessed by the Spirit of Christ can accomplish it.
Outline:
1. Many of the scribes and Pharisees tried to complicate religion and take it out of the reach of simple people.
2. The scribe who asked the question (v. 28) wanted to get back to the basics.
3. Jesus simplifies what God requires into one word, "Love."
- Love the Lord.
- Love your neighbor.
4. Such love is possible when Christ lives in us.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Ruth 1:1--18 (C)
This story, known by even the biblically illiterate, finds its setting during the time of the judges. Elimelech and his wife Naomi migrate to Moab, probably for economic reasons, where they settle. Their two sons marry Moabite wives. During the course of time, all of the men in Naomi's family die. She hears that there is food in the land of her origin and decides to return to her roots. Ruth and her two daughters--in--law start trekking back to Judah but Naomi has second thoughts about her daughters--in--law returning with her. Thinking that they would be better off in their own country, she instructs them to go back to the homes of their origin. Orpah tearfully parts from Naomi but Ruth refuses to leave and vows to accompany her until death. This text provides a classic story of friendship and loyalty.
Lesson 1: Deuteronomy 6:2--6 (RC); Deuteronomy 6:1--9 (E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 9:11--14 (C)
The author of Hebrews continues his comparison of the ministry of Christ with that of the Jewish religion. This lection compares the earthly religious sanctuary, where priests offered repeated sacrifices, to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ offered his own blood, in atonement for the sins of humanity. The purpose of sacrifice was to purify but the sacrifices of the Jewish religion were not intended to remove the contagion of willful sin but to cleanse a person from an unintentional sin or from breaking a taboo, such as touching a dead body. The sacrifice of Christ removes more than a ceremonial impurity, it removes the moral adulteration of our soul; "...how much more will the blood of Christ purify our conscience from dead works..." (v. 14). Cleansed by Christ's blood, we can worship God freely.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 7:23--28 (RC, E)
(See Proper 25)
Gospel: Mark 12:28--34 (C, RC, E)
Jesus finds himself in a lively dispute with the scribes, who interpreted the oral law. A particular scribe steps from the fringes of the debating party and asks Jesus which commandment is the "first of all." Jesus answers with the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4--9), "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord..." but links to it the commandment to love one's neighbor as yourself. The scribe agreed with Jesus' response, which showed that he wasn't there just to justify his own position but to find the truth; he adds to what Jesus has brought forth the prophetic observation that such love is better than sacrifice. Jesus respected the man's integrity and told him that he was not far from the kingdom of God. The opposition fell silent.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 146 (C) - "I will praise the Lord as long as I live" (v. 2).
Psalm 119:1--16 (E)
Psalm 17 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
God of grace, remove from our lives all that distracts us from that which is ultimate and foundational; that is, to love you body and soul and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In the great name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Ruth 1:1--18
Widow's might. The story of Ruth is a saga of a widow's strength and determination. Not that Naomi envisioned going off on her own; after all, she had decided to reconnect with her family and her homeland. Nevertheless, she didn't want to encumber her daughters--in--law, urging them to return to their families. She had the confidence to take what life gave her and move on. Ruth also was a widow who showed great strength of character, refusing to part with Naomi.
Finding security (v. 9). Naomi ordered Orpah and Ruth to return to their ancestral homes in order to find security. Being connected with a family was a person's only security, especially for women. Orpah realized this and opted for security rather than a life of uncertainty with Naomi. Ruth, on the other hand, made security secondary to the loyalty and love she felt for Naomi. Love empowers a person to take risks.
Love that sticks (v. 14). "Orpah kissed her mother--in--law but Ruth clung to her." Both women truly loved Naomi; the thought of severing the relationship pulled at their heart strings. Ruth's love was superior because it transcended emotion, it was a total commitment of herself to the older woman. It was truly a love that stuck.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 9:11--14
Priest of the past and present (v. 11). This verse is translated by some authorities: "Christ came as the high priest of the good things that have come" but other interpreters translate it "are to come." I like to think that Christ is the mediator and priest of the good things in both the past and the future. He is our eternal high priest.
The new and improved high priest (vv. 13--14). Manufacturers are always touting their products as being new and improved. The writer of Hebrews makes the same claim for Christ. The old priestly system could cleanse a person ceremonially, so that he could join in the community worship, but the sacrifice of Christ cleanses us in every way, so that we can stand eternally in God's presence.
Gospel: Mark 12:28--34
A pair of imperatives. Jesus summarized what God expected out of his people with a pair of imperatives. To love God and to love our neighbor is a command. The principles upon which the moral universe runs are not negotiable. They are commands! To love the Lord and the neighbor have little to do with feelings and everything to do with obedience.
Theological consensus. The scribe and Jesus reached theological consensus and Jesus informed the man that he was not far from the kingdom of God. Theological consensus is good because theology is a road map that tells us which streets are dead ends and which streets lead us to eternal life. However, we do not inherit eternal life merely by knowing the truth but only by living the truth. Too many theologically astute scholars equate knowledge of God with the experience of God.
Close only counts in horseshoes. Jesus told the scribe that he was not far from the kingdom of God (v. 34) but he didn't say that close was good enough. Let's say that a person is caught in a blizzard and he thinks he knows where home is but isn't sure. After wandering a long time, he lies down to rest and never wakes up. His family finds him the next day; he was only 100 feet from home, within a stone's throw of safety. His family wouldn't take comfort in the fact that he was so close to home; this fact would only increase their anguish. Being just outside heaven's gates is still outside.
The unitive principle (v. 29). In answer to the scribe's inquiry, Jesus repeats the prime article of Jewish faith, the Shema, which states that the Lord is ONE, the essence of God is not to be divided or separated. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength" (v. 30). Our love of God must remain whole and focused. Not only is God "one" but our love for God and our neighbor are also connected. You can't love one without the other. Our love of God and of mankind flow from the same river.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Ruth 1:1--18
Sermon Title: Three Strikes And She's Not Out
Sermon Angle: Naomi had three tremendous strikes against her during the decade she sojourned in the land of Moab. One by one, she was bereft of her husband and her two sons. Did she go back to the bench and cry about the unfairness of the game of life? No, she kept on swinging. She was not a quitter and neither was Ruth.
Outline:
1. In baseball, three strikes and you're out. Some are proposing the same rule for those who commit crimes.
2. Naomi had three strikes against her but kept on swinging.
3. Faith in God keeps us swinging when life throws us strikes.
Sermon Title: Linked For Life
Sermon Angle: The philosophy of our time suggests that strength is demonstrated when the solitary individual asserts himself against the world. The Bible teaches that strength comes through relationships. Ruth might have figured that she would have been better off not to be saddled with an old woman in a strange land. Ruth was determined to link her life to her mother--in--law's for life. Love links us to other people, it links us to life. The bond of love is the source of our strength.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 9:11--14
Sermon Title: Once And For All
Sermon Angle: This passage speaks of the tent (tabernacle) and the Holy Place, which was contained in the tabernacle. The tent referred to is the body of Christ, the Holy Place is the cross, where Christ shed his blood and offered his life for the sins of the world. Christ entered once and for all into this Holy Place (v. 12). The work of salvation is complete, except that we must appropriate Christ's sacrifice for ourselves. We don't ever have to doubt our salvation; it's been accomplished once and for all.
Outline:
1. The sacrifices of the Jewish religion did not completely purge sin and had to be repeated.
2. The high priest would go into the Holy Place in the temple once a year to offer sacrifices for his sins and those of the people.
3. Jesus went to the Holy Place (the cross) once and for all (v. 12).
- His sacrifice is good for all time and for all people.
4. Let us worship and live confidently because we are covered by Christ's sacrifice.
Sermon Title: Christianity Is A Bloody Religion
Sermon Angle: The cross and sacrifice are at the heart of the Christian faith. Ours is a bloody religion. Christianity is not the first to stress the importance of blood sacrifice but is the only religion that claims that, in some mysterious way, God offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. The writer of Hebrews stresses the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over those of the Jewish faith but there are those who would like to have us throw out this whole bloody business. They would have us sanitize the Christian faith and present Jesus as only a prophet or teacher. The arguments made in Hebrews may seem strange and archaic to modern ears.
Gospel: Mark 12:28--34
Sermon Title: He Asked The Right Question
Sermon Angle: A lot of problems and misunderstandings stem from the fact that often we don't ask the right question, the question that hones in on the target. Jesus found himself in a theological dispute with a bunch of scribes, which apparently was going nowhere until a wise scribe put forth the right question. He inquired as to the identity of the principle of truth from which all others derive. "Which commandment is the first of all?" (v. 28). Jesus answered that question, the scribe agreed and there was no more discussion (v. 34). Today, many people are asking the wrong questions, such as "How can I find happiness?" Only when we ask the right question will we receive the right answers. The rest is up to us.
Outline:
1. In the theological debate, the scribes were not asking the key question.
2. The scribe who asked Jesus to define the "first commandment" brought the discussion to a resolution.
3. What is the question that guides your life?
4. Is your life guided by your desires or God's imperatives?
__________
For fourteen centuries astronomers were all asking the wrong question: "How do the sun and the planets revolve around the earth?" No one thought that the question itself might be wrong until a man by the name of Copernicus came along. Without any proof, he posited that it was likely that the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun. For raising this novel question, he was condemned as a heretic by the Church.
For two decades, a professor of law put this equation on the chalkboard:
3
2
He would inquire: "What's the solution?" A hand would raise. "One." A voice would then chime in, "Five." The professor would not acknowledge these responses. Finally, someone would call out the final possibility. "Six." The teacher would shake his head disapprovingly and state: "None of you have raised the key question: What is the problem?" Without posing the right question, a person cannot expect to come up with the correct answer.
__________
The fable is told of the lion who thought very highly of himself but seemed to need his ego massaged by the other beasts in the jungle. The lion came upon a little mouse and roared, "Who's the king of the jungle?" "You are!" he squeaked. Next the lion crossed paths with a baboon. "Who's the king of the jungle?" he bellowed. "You are!" hooted the baboon. Finally, he came across an elephant. "Who's the king of the jungle?" The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the elephant picked him up, twirled him around his head and set him flying like a frisbee. The lion landed with a terrible thud, fifty feet away. The lion, dazed and shaken, rose slowly to his feet. "You didn't have to blow your top just because you didn't know the answer to the question."
Sermon Title: Give Your Whole Offering
Sermon Angle: The commandment which Jesus described as of first importance uses the Greek word holos (whole, complete) repeatedly. "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind and your whole strength," states Jesus. The scribe repeats these words in his reiteration of the commands but adds that to love God wholly is better than whole burnt offerings. This means that to offer up our lives completely as a sacrifice of worship is superior to giving to God a costly object through liturgical worship. Giving to God your whole offering doesn't mean to give your tithe but your whole being to God. That's what's of first importance.
Outline:
1. Are you holding back on your offering to the Lord? No, I don't mean your tithe, I mean your body, your life.
2. Jesus indicates that our first duty is to love God with our whole heart, whole soul, whole mind and whole strength.
3. The scribe added that loving God wholly is better than generous liturgical offering (v. 33).
4. Have you given God your whole life?
Sermon Title: Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Sermon Angle: There were two contradictory tendencies among the ancient Jewish rabbis. On the one hand, they would add a host of interpreting rules and precepts to the major laws. On the other hand, there was a tendency to distill the commands down to their essence. Jesus felt most comfortable with the latter tendency. He felt that many of the laws of the Pharisees and the scribes were burdensome. Because of this, he issued his gracious invitation found in Matthew 11:28--30. A cardinal rule for journalism is "Keep it simple, stupid!" When we communicate that faith, we must abide by the same admonition. The precept to love God with everything we are and our neighbor as ourselves is eminently simple to comprehend, yet profoundly difficult to carry out. Only those who are possessed by the Spirit of Christ can accomplish it.
Outline:
1. Many of the scribes and Pharisees tried to complicate religion and take it out of the reach of simple people.
2. The scribe who asked the question (v. 28) wanted to get back to the basics.
3. Jesus simplifies what God requires into one word, "Love."
- Love the Lord.
- Love your neighbor.
4. Such love is possible when Christ lives in us.
