Explain Commandment #1 and Mark 12:28-34?
QUESTION: How would you explain Commandment #1 and Mark 12:28-34 in regards to Godhead?
ANSWER: Thank you for your patience. I was not feeling well at the time you asked me this question and at the same time asking the Lord how to answer it according to His holy words.
First of all, as a Bible student, we always follow the rule of interpretating the Bible to avoid our private interpretation.
- Isaiah 28:9-10 “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Because love is the fulfillment of the law, our love for God will admit no other god aside Him who alone deserves our supreme adoration, worship, faith, and loyalty. The first commandment said,
- Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Satan had an issue worshipping God. In fact, he refused to worship Jesus as commanded by God the Father.
Hebrews 1:6 “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”
Also, when speaking to Jesus the Father Himself said:
Hebrews 1:9 "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
Instead, Satan tempted Jesus to worship him, but Jesus rebuked him and drove him away from His presence by saying;
Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
The verse referred to is in,
- Deuteronomy 6:13 “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.”
To fear the Lord, and to worship him, is the same thing. Worship includes both an internal and external reverence of God.
Now, let’s go to Mark 12:28-34.
- 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? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 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. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 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: 33 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. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
- Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
The first commandment mentioned by Mark is further explained by Matthew when He elaborated in Matthew 22:37-40,
- Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
In fact, Paul makes it clearer how these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets by saying in Romans 13:9-10;
- Romans 13:9-10 “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Now, the phrase “the Lord our God is one Lord” and “there is one God” seems to contradict the belief of the Godhead or three Gods, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But there is no contradiction because it is clear in 1 John 5:7;
- 1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
The phrase “these three are one,” means that all three are in agreement.
- 1 John 5:8 “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
This is no different than when the Lord said a husband and wife are “one” or in agreement.
Lastly, when you read in the Hebrew language Deuteronomy 6:4, it will be clear to note that the three Gods (or Godhead) are united altogether as one.
- Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”
Shama H8085 (hear / pay attention) Yisrael H3478 (Israel) Yehovah H3068 (Jehovah / Lord) Eloheem H430 (Gods) echawd H259 (united / altogether / together / one) Yehovah H3068 (Jehovah / Lord)
Truth is truth!
