Mark 7:6-9, 9:23, 10:43-45, & 12:28-34

 

(Mark 7:6-9) [Jesus] answered and said unto them, "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."

(Mark 9:23) Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

(Mark 10:2-9) And the Pharisees came to Him, and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" tempting Him.

And He answered and said unto them, "What did Moses command you?"

And they said, "Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away."

And Jesus answered and said unto them, "For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder [tear apart]."

(Note: The photo is of my husband and me on our wedding day, June 10, 2012!!)

(Mark 10:43-45) [Jesus said,] "But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Notice these commandments first want us to acknowledge the sovereignty of God then next commands our devotion to God, and then to love.  Put God first and all else falls into place.

(Mark 12:28-34) And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"

And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

And the scribe said unto Him, "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."