When the Bible repeats itself, it’s best to pay attention.
Part of why I’m such an advocate for reading the whole Bible is you get to see the repetition, and how it’s all stitched together.
I have stumbled upon some major repetition with the greatest commandment —
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
I’ve been focused on the nature of “All” our hearts…
Let’s look at some of the verses, shall we?
Deut 4:29
29(A) But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deut 6:4-5
4“Hear, O Israel:(A) The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[a] 5You(B) shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deut 26:16
16“This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Matt 22:38 (and in Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27) Jesus repeats it and adds “mind” —
34(A) But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced(B) the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35(C) And one of them,(D) a lawyer, asked him a question(E) to test him. 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And he said to him, (F) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment.
So…how do we do that?
I think it relates back to giving him all of our heart. Having no hidden places that he doesn’t reign in. Like Luke 11:36 – we should have no part of our hearts that is “dark” – God should have full control and dominion over every inch of our heart.
It also probably has a sense of urgency, priority and total devotion. Loving God should therefore be the highest priority and delight for us?
Is it?
Mike Ruel 