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the Shema

Mark 12:29
"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:"

We have begun a series on the acrostic “GRACED.”

Go to God in prayer daily.
Read God’s Word daily.
Attend worship regularly.
Connect in a study group.
Engage in service.
Dedicate to the tithe and beyond.

Yesterday’s verse a scribe asks Jesus what the most important commandment is. A question we all want to know? In today’s verse Jesus's answer is based on the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) as the first and greatest commandment, declaring, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This statement affirms monotheism, asserting that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the unique, exclusive, and singular Creator, with no other gods comparable to Him. 

The command to “Hear” is not merely an auditory instruction but a call for wholehearted obedience and loyal devotion. By quoting this foundational Jewish confession, Jesus establishes that true faith begins with recognizing God’s unity and sovereignty, which then serves as the basis for the subsequent command to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength. 
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