Semikkah7

06/13/2022 – Day 106 – Mark 11 – 12 / “… Of all the commandments, which is the most important.” Mark 12:28

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As I have noted, after doing it multiple times over three decades, reading though the bible time wise is not such a huge commitment. Praying, researching, posting and more praying… : That is a different matter. My hope would be to have say seven brothers taking on a facilator role for one day throughout the year. So, the edification to the group increases signficantly. But, we fight from where we are, day by day…

So, I have multiple notes through just these two chapters to present to you. But this morning, I am going to focus on one that fascinated me. File it under “mystery of God’s truth”; it is a huge file drawer.

So, I am using my team of Barclay (“The Gospel of Mark” commentary) and John Gill’s bible commentary for every verse in the bible, free access on the web:

Let’s get started with Barclay’s messenger insights:

“This scribe in 12:28 came to Jesus with a question which was often a matter of debate in the rabbinic schools. In Judaism there a kind of double tendency. There was the tendency to expand the law limitlessly into hundreds and thousands of rules and regulations. But there was also a tendency to try to gather up the law into one sentence, one general statement which would be a compendum of its whole message….

Sammlai had taught that Moses received 613 precepts on Mount Sinai, 365 accoring to the days of the sun year, and 248 according to the generations of men (Jimmy insert: appr. 8k years). David reduced the number 613 to 11 in Psalm 15. ‘Lord, who shall sojourn in the tent? who shall dwell on thy holy hill?

1. He who walks blamelessly.
2. And does what is right.
3. And speaks the truth from his heart.
4. Who does not slander with his tongue.
5. And does no evil to his friend.
6. Nor takes up reproach against his neighbor.
7. In whose eyes a reprobate is despised.
8. But who honours those who fear the Lord.
9. Who swears to his own heart and does not change.
10. Who does not put out his money at interest.
11. And does not take a bribe against the innocent.

Isaiah reduced them to 6 (Isaiah 33:15.)

1. He who walks righteously.
2. And speaks uprightly.
3. Who despises the gains of repressions.
4. Who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe.
5. Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed.
6. And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil. (*A)

He shall dwell on high.

(*A – Jimmy insert: This would preclude watching fox, as they constantly play clips from cnn and msnbc)

Micah reduced to 6 to 3. (Micah 6:8)

1. To do justice
2. To love kindness.
3. To walk humbly with your God.

Once again Isaiah brought the 3 down to 2. (Isaiah 56:1)

1. Keep justice
2. Do righteousness.

Finally, Habakkuk reduced them all to one. (Habakkuk 2:4)

The righteous shall live by his faith.

So, here is Gill, my “closer” messenger’s commentary on this last verse:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/habakkuk-2-4.html

Jimmy insert from here:

Jesus’ answer from Deuternomy 6: 5: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And what comes right behind this verse with regard to education of our children: (see verses 6: through 9)

SolI Deo Gloria indeed!