“When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” – Mark 12:34a
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This is a very convicting, powerfully heart wrenching quote by Jesus that often goes unnoticed. Let me explain.
Jesus had just been questioned by Pharisees (Mark 12:13-17), Sadducees (Mark 12:18-27) and now by a very witty scribe. It’s interesting to note that the Pharisees despised the Herodians and the Sadducees did not get along well with the Pharisees. Three different people groups who normally rubbed each other raw were united together to try and trip up their arch enemy, Jesus. Wickedness united has great power … or so they thought!
Jesus answered the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ questions with rather subtle poignancy. His answers were simple, yet profound. However, his answer to the scribe was quite seething and cut to the heart. Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” by the scribe. This question is important because scribes were human copying machines. For hours on end, they would meticulously transcribe the Torah and other Jewish Law Books being very careful not to make a mistake. How many times do you think this individual scribe had copied the 613 individual statutes in the Old Testament? What answer do you think he was fishing for?
Jesus didn’t answer him with a law, but quoted the Old Testament Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). It is called Shema because that is the Hebrew word for “hear” which is the first word in this passage (“Hear oh Israel …”). The Shema was a prayer commanded by God to be memorized by all Israelites and quoted when they went to sleep and first thing when they arose in the morning (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Its purpose was clear – so that no one, and no generation, would forget their God!
What Jesus was saying to the scribe was that although he may have known the law and laws of Israel (“he answered intelligently”), he had forgotten his first love. He had written the laws of Israel many times on parchment but had yet to write them on his heart. Sometimes the love of God is 12 inches from being real, the distance from the head to the heart.
“You are not far from the kingdom of God” are words I hope you never hear from your Lord! Do you KNOW God? Not just head knowledge about Him for the “demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). But have you accepted Him into your heart (12 inches further down) as your Lord and Savior?
In Christ,
Dave
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