Sunday School Lesson
February 20
Lesson 12 (KJV)
BILDAD MISSPEAKS GOD’S JUSTICE
DEVOTIONAL READING: Job 8:1–10, 20–22
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Job 8
JOB 8:1–10, 20–22
1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2. How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3. Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4. If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6. If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8. For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9. (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10. Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
20. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22. They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
Photo © Getty Images
KEY TEXT
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?—Job 8:1–2
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Summarize Bildad’s explanation for Job’s suffering.
2. Explain the error of Bildad’s conclusion.
3. Be “Bildad” in a role-play of improved counseling of friends in distress.
HOW TO SAY IT
Bildad
Bill-dad.
Eliphaz
El-ih-faz.
Shuah
Shoe-uh.
Shuhite
Shoe-hite.
Socrates
Sock-ruh-teez.
Zophar
Zo-far.
Introduction
A. Premises and Conclusions
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher who lived 300 years before Christ, influenced modern understandings of philosophy and rhetoric. Other aspects of his work focused on syllogisms, which are logic arguments where a conclusion is required by two premises.
One of Aristotle’s famed syllogisms goes as follows: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal. The first phrase is called the major premise, while the second phrase is called the specific premise. If the two premises are properly stated, then the resulting conclusion will be valid.
In the midst of Job’s suffering, his friends—who lived hundreds of years before Aristotle—attempted to explain Job’s suffering through an implied syllogism. Their syllogism, espoused by Bildad in this lesson’s text, went as follows: Only wicked people suffer. Job suffers. Therefore, Job is wicked. In the perspective of Job’s friends, the premises were true, so it would seem the conclusion was validated!
B. Lesson Context
The book of Job is among the oldest biblical texts, and it deals with one of humanity’s oldest challenges: maintaining hope in the face of suffering. The text also addresses another shared experience: the desire for justice in the midst of suffering.
Job’s suffering was the catalyst for his friends’ arrival. At the onset of the book, Job was described as “perfect and upright,” one who actively “feared God” and “eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). However, Job experienced undue tragedy. His flocks and servants were taken or killed (1:13–17), his 10 children died (1:2, 18–19), and he was afflicted with intense physical suffering (2:7). Without an explanation for the tragedies, Job remained faithful to God and did not “sin with his lips” (2:10).
Job’s friends—Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar—are introduced when, on hearing of Job’s suffering, they “made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him” (Job 2:11). When they reached Job, they were shocked at his appearance and were unable to recognize him. They raised their voices, wept, and took a posture of mourning, remaining silent for “seven days and seven nights” (2:12–13).
Finally Job spoke, pouring out his anguish in great torrents of despair. His suffering overwhelmed him to the point of his cursing his own birth (Job 3:3). Job cried out that the thing he dreaded in life had happened: he experienced no consolation and no peace (3:25–26).
In response to Job’s lament, his friends spoke in cycles of back-and-forth discussions. Eliphaz and Bildad each addressed him three times, while Zophar addressed him twice. Each argument was countered by Job. This lesson’s Scripture text highlights Bildad’s first response to Job’s lament. It is reasonable to conclude that Job’s friends were sincere in wanting to care for Job, even though their counsel was incompetent (see Job 6:21; 16:2).
I. Condemnation
(JOB 8:1–4)
A. Blowing Winds (vv. 1–2)
1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said.
This is the first instance where Bildad speaks. His origins are mysterious, and there is little information to gather from the biblical text. Bildad’s designation as the Shuhite was possibly a tribal name from an ancient ancestor. His ancestry may have been traced to Shuah, a child of Abraham and Keturah (see Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32).
2. How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
Bildad’s speech follows a lengthy lament spoken by Job (Job 6–7). These things spoken by Job consisted of his bemoaning the unjust nature of his suffering. Job did not question God’s sovereignty but questioned the wisdom of his friends (6:11–30). Job’s speech culminates in a pointed protest against God (7:11–21).
Bildad did not waste time expressing his disapproval of Job’s lament. By describing Job’s words as a strong wind, Bildad used Job’s own word against him (see Job 6:26). To Bildad, Job’s word, while desperate, was meaningless and empty. That Job reeled over his multitude of losses (most significantly the death of his children), should give us a sense of how hurtful Bildad’s reply must have felt to Job. Bildad was, after all, one of Job’s closest friends.
What Do You Think?
What role should the correcting of doctrine play when comforting a friend in mourning?
Digging Deeper
What factors might cause you to reconsider your general response?
B. Blasphemous Claims (v. 3)
3. Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
The structure of this verse is such that the two questions are, essentially, the same. Such is an example of literary parallelism, common in Old Testament wisdom literature. This form of parallelism exists when two phrases carry the same meaning but with slightly altered and/or synonymous language. A similar example is stated by the prophet Isaiah: “Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off” (Isaiah 59:14).
The Hebrew verb translated pervert means to bend, falsify, or make crooked (compare Ecclesiastes 1:15; 7:13; Amos 8:5). The primary thrust of Bildad’s argument was rooted in his observation of the nature and character of God the Almighty. God does not bend or falsify judgment. Elihu, another friend of Job, later echoed Bildad’s sentiments, affirming, “Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment” (Job 34:12).
Bildad’s assertion is true. God himself is the standard of justice and righteousness, and He cannot violate His own character. He is just, and Job did not argue that point.
C. Blistering Accusation (v. 4)
4. If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression.
Bildad used Job’s deceased children to illustrate his assumptions about the manner of God’s justice. Previously, the actions of his children greatly concerned Job. Job “offered burnt offerings” for his children because they may “have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5). What Bildad proposed provides an example of retributive justice.
Retributive justice argues that God blesses the righteous and, conversely, curses the wicked. Bildad supposed that Job’s children sinned and so their deaths were the result of their wickedness. This concept finds similarities in the Law of Moses. The promise of blessings came with obedience to God’s law (Deuteronomy 28:1–14), while the promise of curses accompanied disobedience to God’s law (28:15–68). Bildad’s assumptions appear accurate; God blesses obedience and punishes disobedience (compare 11:26–28; 1 Samuel 15:22–23).
However, God sometimes works differently. Perhaps He chastens the righteous in order for their further refinement (see John 15:2–3) or allows the wicked to experience prosperity during their earthly lives (see Psalm 73:3; compare 103:10).
Bildad erred by assuming that Job’s hardships were the inevitable outcome of sin. Bildad’s strong desire to speak on behalf of God led him to make sweeping assertions. Such assertions carry little value, as the author of Ecclesiastes describes: “The righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them” (Ecclesiastes 9:1).
The existence (or nonexistence) of physical and material blessings does not correlate to a person’s spiritual vitality. A righteous individual may inexplicably experience hardship and suffering. This does not imply God’s absence or the wickedness of the individual.
Ultimately, it was not up to Job or Bildad to explain Job’s hardship and suffering. Instead, their interaction highlights that a silent presence often can provide the best comfort to those who are suffering. Bildad could have better served his friend through the comfort of silence and presence—as he started out doing in Job 2:13.
What Do You Think?
What danger exists in assuming God’s motives behind earthly events?
Digging Deeper
How can you guard against thinking or speaking in ways that assume you know why God has allowed something to happen?
II. Exhortation
(JOB 8:5–7)
A. Urgent Response (v. 5)
5. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty.
Bildad transitioned from condemnation to exhortation. Bildad concluded that Job was less sinful than others because the Lord spared Job’s life, at least for the time being. In this perspective, unless Job made supplication to the mercy of the Almighty, there was no guarantee that his life would be spared.
While an archaic word no longer in common use, betimes indicates a speedy response. The time for Job’s lament had passed, and Bildad challenged him to seek unto God and make request of God in a rapid and timely manner.
B. Favorable Reply (vv. 6–7)
6. If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
The theme of God’s awakening occurs in the psalms, where the psalmist pleaded for God to “stir up” and “awake” in order to defend the psalmist (Psalm 35:23). Similarly, the prophet Isaiah called for God to “awake” for the sake of restoring Israel (Isaiah 51:9). In these occurrences, God is called to action for the sake of His people.
In a similar way, Bildad promised Job that God would awake to restore a truly righteous Job. God’s awakening does not imply that God is unaware or unavailable; the psalmist provides a reminder of the ever-present nature of God as one who does not “slumber” or “sleep” (Psalm 121:3–4).
Bildad proposed that the most notable way God would act for Job is through the restoration of Job’s habitation. The Hebrew word is here referring to Job’s overall circumstances (compare Job 5:24) but can also describe a pasture for rest, be it for a flock of sheep (see 2 Samuel 7:8) or a group people (see Isaiah 32:18).
This restored place of rest would be prosperous. The Hebrew word implies peace, safety, restoration, and a return to wholeness. Bildad exhorts Job with hopes that Job can lead a restored existence, reflective of a righteous life.
What Do You Think?
How do you contradict doctrine that sounds right but is actually fundamentally flawed?
Digging Deeper
How does your approach differ if you are speaking to an unbeliever?
7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
At the onset of Job’s story, he is said to be “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3). Bildad argued that if Job sought God and returned to righteousness, then he would experience an increase in reward and his previous life would feel small in comparison.
This verse reveals one of the great ironies in the book of Job—and perhaps all the Bible. Bildad’s words were unknowingly prophetic in describing Job’s future. Eventually, Job was granted more children and more wealth, but not because of Bildad’s advice (see Job 42:12–14).
What Do You Think?
In what ways do you link material wealth with God’s blessing?
Digging Deeper
What Scriptures contradict doctrines that suggest God always gives wealth to those He favors?
III. Reflection
(JOB 8:8–10)
A. Search the Past (v. 8)
8. For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers.
Recognizing the limitations of his experience, Bildad appealed to the tradition of the former age. Perhaps Bildad anticipated that a search of their fathers would confirm his view of God’s justice, thus making clear Job’s next steps.
Bildad’s error, though, came in assuming that the tradition they have inherited was normative. It is one thing to accept tradition with a critical eye; it is something else altogether to use it to draw uncritical, sweeping generalizations. The latter is what Bildad seemed to do to bolster his claims about the nature of God’s justice.
B. Learn from the Past (vv. 9–10)
9–10. (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
The appeal to the past is rooted in life’s tenuous nature, as our days are but a shadow (see Psalms 102:11; 144:4; Ecclesiastes 8:13). Previously, Job cried out, “Teach me … and cause me to understand” (Job 6:24). In response, Bildad pointed to the teachings of the ancestors and the words out of their heart.
Like Bildad, when faced with a crisis, we might be tempted to provide comfort by appealing to past experiences, whether personal or anecdotal. The impulse to do so might arise from our feelings of discomfort and inadequacy during the crisis, especially if we struggle with what to do or say. In moments when we feel a sense of discomfort, we can remember Bildad’s approach and behave differently, choosing to be present and quiet, if necessary.
What Do You Think?
What safeguards are necessary when studying with fellow believers about the Lord’s ways?
Digging Deeper
Do these safeguards differ from generation to generation? Why or why not?
THE WISDOM OF A MENTOR
As a new mother, the pressures of parenting weighed heavily on me. I lived far from my extended family and did not have the support of other mothers. I wanted to learn from the wisdom of other mothers who could guide me and offer encouragement.
In an effort to find that support, I asked the minister of my church if church leadership had ever considered starting a mentoring program for new mothers. My minister responded that they had tried to start such a program, but it did not take root. The minister elaborated that “a lot of [the mothers] feel they made too many mistakes with their own children to be of use to another person.”
I felt deflated; I longed to learn from former generations and apply their wisdom to my own parenting practices.
Bildad challenged Job to seek wisdom from previous generations. For Job’s situation, that challenge was not helpful. On the other hand, godly individuals can provide helpful insight and wisdom that coincides with the wisdom of Scripture. What traits do you look for in a mentor? How are you fostering traits of godliness in your life? Can you live up to the words of the apostle Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)?
—L. M.-W.
IV. Projection
(JOB 8:20–22)
A. Double Retribution (v. 20)
20. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers.
Bildad continued to project assumptions of God’s justice. The Hebrew word translated perfect here is also translated that way in Job 1:1, which establishes that Job was indeed “perfect and upright” (Job 1:1). But Bildad seems to have been looking at Job’s tragedies to conclude the opposite. Thus Bildad has constructed a syllogism as follows:
Major Premise:
God does not cast away those who are perfect.
Specific Premise:
God has cast Job away (as evidenced by Job’s troubles).
Conclusion:
Job is not perfect and, therefore, needs to repent.
The problem lies in the specific premise, which everyone assumed to be true. But the narrative of the first two chapters of this book—unknown to Job and his friends—informs us otherwise.
The flip side of the idea is found in the tradition of biblical wisdom literature that describes the righteous experiencing God’s blessings. These individuals are like a flourishing plant, “green before the sun” (Job 8:16; compare Psalm 1:3).
Previously Eliphaz had made similar claims (Job 4:7–9), which Job would later refute (see Job 12:6). Various Old Testament voices reflect Job’s sentiment, lamenting the ways the wicked seem to flourish, even as they speak against God (see Jeremiah 12:1; Malachi 3:15). Jesus’ teaching reminds us that the righteous and unrighteous alike receive rain and sunshine (see Matthew 5:45).
When compared to Bildad’s assumptions, a fuller understanding of Scripture creates a big problem for those determined to maintain a rigid understanding of how God works.
B. Double Vindication (vv. 21–22)
21. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
What greater satisfaction could Job experience than for God to fill his mouth with laughing and his lips with rejoicing after recovering from such prolonged lament, personal loss, and intense pain? But Bildad’s implied solution—that Job needs to repent—follows from defective reasoning.
VICTORY FROM AFFLICTIONS
For several years, I lived in Eastern Europe and experienced the celebrations of May 8. Every year on this day, people flood parks and downtown areas to celebrate Victory in Europe day (VE-day). It was on that day in 1945 that Allied forces formally accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany, thus ending World War II in Europe. After VE-day, people felt free to rebuild from the rubble of war.
Some celebrants lived through the war and remembered the fear and deprivation they endured. They remembered losing loved ones and being displaced from their homes. For these individuals, VE-day celebrations serve as a reminder of previous afflictions and eventual freedoms.
Job did find freedom from his afflictions and again experienced joy. How has God freed you from afflictions and filled your heart with joy? May the words of the psalmist become your worship: “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3).
—L. M.-W.
22. They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
The false logic continued as Bildad again unknowingly spoke prophetic words (see commentary on Job 8:7, above). Yet this time Bildad’s words addressed his own future situation before God—Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar are the ones clothed with shame (see 42:7–9).
God’s ultimate and lengthy response was to affirm His own sovereignty (Job 38–41). In a general sense, this corrected Bildad’s faulty assumptions.
What Do You Think?
What scriptures suggest that Bildad’s statement in Job 8:22 is true?
Digging Deeper
When have you needed to hear this promise?
Conclusion
A. The Greatest Ministry
Being present to someone in the midst of a tragedy presents unique challenges. In an effort to explain the suffering, we may put too much pressure on ourselves to comfort in a wrong way. Platitudes will likely overstep the bounds of what is helpful. At best, our words might be little more than hollow clichés; at worst, they might cause further harm.
Bildad’s counterproductive interaction with Job reminds us of the best ministry we might offer: the ministry of presence in the midst of difficult seasons. At first, Job’s friends approached him in this manner (Job 2:13). But their silent presence changed to unhelpful arguments. They were quick to suppose that wickedness was the primary reason for Job’s suffering. However, Bildad’s logic did not account for the entire story of how God works. In reality, wicked individuals might experience blessing, while righteous individuals might experience suffering. Unbeknownst to everyone present, Job’s suffering was an example of the latter.
When others experience suffering, our natural response is to be with them. To draw near, cry, and share in grief is an appropriate course of action to comfort the sufferer. Conjecture on God’s behalf is unwise and unnecessary. Sitting silently with a grieving person often provides the best support.
B. Prayer
God of all comfort, grant us the patience to be silent for as long as it is needed in difficult moments. Help us say only what will be received as grace and comfort. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Our loving presence is the greatest ministry we have to offer those who are suffering.
KID’S CORNER
How to See Jesus
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Mark 12:28-37
Mark 12:28-37
(Mark 12:28) One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”
Initially, the scribes and Pharisees tested Jesus theologically to learn if He believed in and conformed to their interpretations of the Bible, their traditions, and their laws. When they discovered that Jesus did not agree with their ideas and practices, they tested Jesus’ theology so they could judge and condemn Jesus. Eventually they plotted to kill Jesus. Even today, too many use their theological thoughts, philosophical beliefs, systems, and study of the Bible to find ways to judge and condemn those who do not think and believe as they do. Jesus went through this trial too. If they loved God and others, they would study the Bible and think to learn the truth for themselves so they could help others as well as themselves come to a true knowledge of the Bible, God, and faith in Jesus Christ. In the situation described in these verses, a truly seeking scribe discovered that Jesus answered questions well, so he sincerely asked Jesus about the Scriptures and God’s commandments to learn the truth and obey God. He did not come to Jesus to try to trick Jesus or examine Jesus to try to find something wrong with Jesus and His teachings as many of the other religious leaders did (and some still do). This scribe may have eventually become a follower of Jesus because Jesus told him that he was not far from the kingdom of God (Mark 12:34). [The kingdom of God includes wherever King Jesus reigns and resides. This scribe was talking to the King of the universe, so physically and spiritually he was not far from the kingdom of God.] If he trusted in Jesus as His Lord and Savior, then King Jesus would come to live in his heart and reign in his life. Jesus knew his heart and answered him with love and compassion to draw him closer to the kingdom of God and to faith in Him as the true Son of God and Savior of sinners.
(Mark 12:29) Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
Jesus began His answer by quoting from the Hebrew Scriptures and by beginning with God. Jesus quoted the Law that the LORD gave to Moses beginning with Deuteronomy 6:4. Unlike their neighbors, the Hebrews had one Lord, one God, named Yahweh or Jehovah. In most English translations of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), the name of the God of the Hebrews (called Jews in Jesus’ day) is LORD (with all capital or uppercase letters: LORD). The Jews considered these four consonants YHWH (Yahweh: the name of God, the LORD) too sacred to pronounce aloud. God commanded the Hebrews not to worship a multitude of idols as their neighbors did. They were to worship the LORD, who revealed His true nature and character to them in their history and in their Scriptures (the Bible). Depending on the context, in the English translation of the Greek New Testament, the title “Lord” can refer to the LORD (YHWH, as in Mark 12:29), to Jesus Christ, or to a person worthy of respect (as in “Sir’).
By quoting Deuteronomy 6:4, Jesus showed that the modern idea “All You Need is Love” is incorrect. People need the true God, not simply love. They need the true God, who is True Love. Not all that people call “love” is consistent with the divine and holy love of the true God. True believers in God begin with a true knowledge of the true God and they place their trust in the true God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; then, they love the true God more and more as they grow in wisdom by practicing what the Bible teaches. In 1 John 4:9-11, the Bible teaches us about true love: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” Our God is one, and Jesus taught (especially in the Gospel of John) that the One True God is Three Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, who love one another, the holy angels, and us.
(Mark 12:30) AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’
Jesus reaffirmed what God revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures about love and the two primary or most important commandments of God. God requires us to love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and They love us. God loves in special ways those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In 1 John 4:16, we read, “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” God gave the Hebrews many reasons to love God. Jesus has given us many reasons to love God. Today, the whole Bible gives many reasons for everyone to love God. God wants our undivided devotion, a love from the depth of our being, a love that includes the whole of our personality along with a commitment and desire to use all our thoughts and physical strength in the service of God and others as He commands and leads us daily according to the Bible in the power and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus demonstrated this type of love and obedience to His Father by His every word and work. Jesus demonstrated infinite love for us when He died on the cross and rose again for us while we were still sinners in rebellion against God. In Romans 5:8, we learn, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” When we learn from the Bible and from our experience how much God loves us, then we begin loving God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength.
(Mark 12:31) “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He said He had not come to abolish the law (or these commandments to love): “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Jesus fulfilled the law when he perfectly loved and obeyed the Law of Love every moment of His life and especially when gave His life for the salvation of sinners as Paul described in Romans 5:8, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” The second commandment included the command for us to love others. In order to love others, you must love yourself. You can love yourself when you remember that God loves you and God proved His love for you when Jesus died on the cross for you. You may not yet be all you want to be, but God is making you into the loving person that He wants you to become. In order to love your neighbor as yourself, you must treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated by your neighbor. Whether others treat you fairly or not, if you love them, you will treat them fairly because you would prefer that they treat you fairly and this is God’s will for everyone. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). These two commandments sum up the whole law of God, the moral law, the Ten Commandments, so there can be no greater commandment than these two. Jesus showed His disciples (and us) how important these commandments are and one other commandment is when He said to them in John 13:34-35, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Paul described the perfect love of Jesus Christ and how God expects us to love our neighbors and our families when he told husbands how to love their wives (their closest neighbor), writing in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
(Mark 12:32) The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;
Unlike many of the scribes and Pharisees, who were offended by Jesus’ truthful answers, this scribe commended Jesus for His answer and recognized Jesus as the Teacher from God, a position many of the other scribes and Pharisees refused to recognize. As the “Teacher,” the scribe said Jesus had spoken “rightly” and “truly;” therefore, we have good reasons to think that the scribe became one of Jesus’ many unnamed disciples. In essence, the scribe repeated accurately what Jesus said. He affirmed that he understood Jesus, the Scriptures, the law, and the prophets. He affirmed that he agreed with Jesus and He had spoken truly. His statement of faith in Jesus was the beginning of a complete statement of faith, and it showed how he disagreed with those who came to accuse and try to entrap Jesus.
(Mark 12:33) AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
By his reply to Jesus, the scribe proved that he had studied both the law and the prophets; furthermore, his question and answer showed his concern regarded the proper interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures and not the traditions of the scribes and Pharisees. The scribe’s words showed he agreed with Hosea who wrote these words of God: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). He knew that ritual worship and sacrifices cannot serve as a substitute for love, mercy, truth, and the knowledge of God. With his words, he took the side of Jesus and declared to everyone that he intended to obey God, the Scriptures, and these commandments—so Jesus encouraged him.
(Mark 12:34) When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
Jesus commended the scribe, who may have begun to follow Jesus from that moment forward in order to learn more about God and the kingdom of God. To be near the kingdom of God is to be mentally and spiritually near Jesus the Messiah, the King of the universe. To be near the kingdom of God is to seek to share in His love and understand His purposes, to want to obey God in everything, to want God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and to try to help others find God as God is revealed in the Bible. Jesus told the scribe that he was not far from the kingdom of God. To follow Jesus and believe His teachings will draw a person closer to God and His kingdom. To enter the Kingdom of God, a person needs to bow before the King, Jesus the Messiah, to repent of their sins, and to declare their unswerving allegiance to Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and King. Then, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will bring the kingdom of God into the believer’s heart and soul where They will live with and within them forever. God intended for our bodies to be the temple of God. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul wrote to those who believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
(Mark 12:35) And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
No one dared ask Jesus any more questions, since asking Him questions only proved before others that He was wiser and more loving than His accusers. After Jesus answered all their questions wisely, Jesus asked a question that would reveal deeper truths about His divine and human nature. Perhaps Jesus asked this question at this time because He wanted His hearers to have this question in mind as they began to learn the true meaning of Jesus’ words in Mark 12:29, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Eventually, Jesus would teach His disciples and they would teach others that the one true God is three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The scribes and Pharisees rightly taught that the Messiah would be the son of David; therefore, the Messiah had to be one of David’s descendants, a person born after David was born. Given the fact that the leaders and people believed this truth, Jesus drew their attention to the specific verses in the Hebrew Scriptures and what David said about the Messiah.
(Mark 12:36) “David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET.”’
Notice: Jesus affirmed that the Holy Spirit inspired David’s words and the Holy Spirit made certain that what David heard, saw, and reported was accurate. The one true God included the Holy Spirit. Later, the Apostle Paul wrote about the Hebrew Scriptures in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” Though the writers and scribes of the Hebrew Scriptures did not always understand what they recorded or wrote under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, the Holy Spirit made certain that they wrote what God wanted written. In asking His question, Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1. David personally called the Messiah (who had not come in David’s day) “my Lord.” Perhaps in a heavenly vision, David heard Yahweh (the LORD) speak to the Messiah (the Son of God), who David called his Lord (his divine King), who was the One that King David directly obeyed. David heard Yahweh speak to the Messiah who would come. He promised the Messiah that He would put His enemies under His feet. David heard Yahweh say to the Messiah, “Sit at my right hand.” Before his descendant (Jesus) came, David heard a holy discussion between God the Father and God the Son, and the Holy Spirit helped David report these words of God.
(Mark 12:37) “David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.
Jesus’ question might be stated this way: “Since King David heard Yahweh, the LORD, speak to the Messiah, the One David recognized as his Lord, how can the Messiah also be one of David’s descendants?” The scribes and Pharisees could not answer this question. Jesus’ question demanded an answer that would include the Messiah being a person greater than David, a person who existed before he came into the world as a human being. Jesus’ question demanded an answer that included the Messiah existing before David’s descendant as Messiah would be born. Jesus’ question demanded an answer that only Jesus was qualified to give them (and would eventually give to His disciples): Jesus the Messiah in His divine and human nature is both Son of God and son of David. The Bible reveals that Jesus was conceived as the son of David and He is Son of God because the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she conceived the baby Jesus. Remember what the angel said to Mary in Luke 1:35, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.”
In Summary: The Son of God existed before He was conceived in the virgin Mary’s womb. He talked with God His Father about what They would do when He came and after He completed His work on earth. Jesus’ apostles learned these facts (the complete answer to Jesus’ question), and they reported these truths in various ways throughout the New Testament.
How to See Jesus
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Mark 12:28-37
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. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31—KJV).
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31—NASB).
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31—NRSV).
When some Greeks found Phillip, they told him, “We wish to see Jesus” (see John 12:21). Today, increasing numbers of people, both followers of Jesus and others, are saying, “We wish to see Jesus.” Jesus’ teachings in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John help us see Jesus. If you wish to see Jesus, you will begin seeing Jesus if you keep on reading.
One day, a scribe went to see Jesus and he recognized the sincerity of Jesus’ as He answered questions well, so he asked Jesus, “ Which commandment is the first of all?” (see Mark 12:28-37). In Jesus’ answer, we learn something about Jesus, and we begin to see Jesus as He is. Jesus said that those who follow the first commandment will love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. When someone asks what we mean when we say that Jesus lived a perfect sinless life, we can answer by saying, “Jesus loved the Lord His God with all His heart, mind, soul and strength.” The four gospels, especially the Gospel of John, show us Jesus, the Son of God, doing everything He did for people (including everyone today) because He loved God His Father and He knew that His Father loved Him. When we see Jesus doing anything during His short time on Earth and throughout His ministry, we know that He did everything because He loved His Heavenly Father and wanted to do everything His Father asked Him to do—even die on a cross as the Savior of the world. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14).
But wait. You still only see part of Jesus. This is not the total picture that we need to see. Notice how Jesus also obeyed the second greatest commandment, for Jesus loved His neighbor as Himself. Think carefully. In following the first commandment, Jesus loved God; Jesus loved His Father, Himself (Jesus is the Son of God), and the Holy Spirit. Jesus loved Himself (deservedly so) and in the second commandment Jesus has told us to love ourselves, in addition to loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Trying to obey the second commandment without putting the first commandment first will only lead to a self-love that is in reality only a selfish selfcenteredness, which is a sin that will lead to increasing lawlessness. Jesus obeyed both commandments; therefore, His love for God and us was not and is not selfish or self-centered. When Jesus loved Himself with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength, He also loved and loves us as He loves Himself. Jesus loves us with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength, and we see Jesus’ total love in the way Jesus treated everyone He met and how He met the needs of everyone in every way that He wisely could. See how Jesus loved. Knowing Peter would deny Him, He still loved Peter and made him an apostle. Knowing Judas would betray Him, He still loved Judas and felt sorry for Judas because He knew the consequences of Judas’ betrayal.
Knowing Jerusalem would soon be destroyed by the Romans, Jesus wept for the people He loved and came to save but who rejected God’s offer of salvation through faith in Him, God’s Son and Messiah. In the four gospels, we see Jesus loved (and still loves) everyone with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength because He died on the cross and rose again to save us from our sins while we still lived in rebellion against Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. Look at Jesus. If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, He loves you as He loves Himself with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength. If you have sinned and want to change, look to Jesus to forgive you, and save you, because Jesus loves you with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength. Trust in Jesus because Jesus loves you and He came to save you and give you eternal life. Are you beginning to see Jesus more completely?
Carefully consider these words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:7-11 as you see our loving Jesus dying on the cross for us, for you, and rising from the dead for us, for you:
“Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person— though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath (our deserved judgement and punishment) of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Jesus came and died and rose again so those who believe in, love, and follow Jesus will not receive the just judgment and punishment of God that they deserve. If you look to Jesus and see Jesus as He is, you will believe in Jesus, you will love Jesus, and you will follow Jesus. God knows that in this life, you will not love and follow Jesus perfectly, but you will strive to obey His commandments; knowing this, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to live within His followers to guide and empower them to live in love as God intends according to the Bible. Listen to Jesus’ words in John 14:15-16, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” Do you see? God is love and God sent His Son to save you from the just punishment you deserve. As followers of Jesus Christ, we try to obey the Law of Love, these two commandments, the Holy Spirit being our Helper, that Jesus explained to the scribe. The Apostle John tells us more about Jesus and His loving presence with His followers in 1 John 4:14-21:
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
If you truly want to see Jesus and see Jesus better, I suggest that you begin with the Gospel of John
Thinking Further
How to See Jesus
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Mark 12:28-37
Name _____________________________________
1.In what way did Jesus show that obeying the Law of God was important?
2. Do you think obeying the Law of God is still important for those who say they follow Jesus?
3. What reason can you give for thinking the scribe who asked about the greatest commandment might have become a sincere follower of Jesus?
4. Why do you think Jesus answered the scribe directly instead of in a parable?
5. Why do you think Jesus did not give the scribes and Pharisees the answer to His question?
Discussion and Thinking Further
1. In what way did Jesus show that obeying the Law of God was important?
Jesus taught that obeying the Law of God was important, and unlike many of the scribes and Pharisees Jesus obeyed the Law perfectly and as He intended the Law to be obeyed. He proved to be a good example to all.
2. Do you think obeying the Law of God is still important for those who say they follow Jesus?
Yes. The Law of God requires everyone to love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love their neighbors as themselves. God will never say the Law of God is unimportant and is not needed to be obeyed. God is love and God would never say that people will not need to love God and one another even in heaven. Jesus has told us to love one another as He has loved us.
3. What reason can you give for thinking the scribe who asked about the greatest commandment might have become a sincere follower of Jesus?
He questioned Jesus sincerely rather than try to entrap Jesus. He also said that Jesus answered his question rightly and truly. He learned that listening to Jesus and following Jesus would be wise.
4. Why do you think Jesus answered the scribe directly instead of in a parable?
The scribe did not need to be answered in a parable because Jesus knew his heart and He knew that he had ears to hear and a willingness to obey the truth and the Law of God as quickly as he learned what God wanted him to do.
5. Why do you think Jesus did not give the scribes and Pharisees the answer to His question?
He knew they would not understand His answer and because they would not understand or accept His answer, they would only use His answer as an excuse to kill Him rather than follow Him. It was not yet His time for Him to go to the cross as a ransom for sinners.
Word Search
How to See Jesus
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Mark 12:28-37
Name _____________________________________
W R C O M M A N D M E N T F J
J N D Q S E Y S C D B R D E T
U E P K N C P N I W G W G A C
H Q S W V I S S E L V O C E D
N Z X U R K P E O I D A S V N
K V C I S U R H B Z G L F O I
U O T D T E G S W I S H I L M
R Y Q I H J O U E T R H B K B
H W N C K U D L R B W C E O D
N G A M L V Q E I Y P L S A R
D E Q C Z X N A N D C Z B E R
T W D X B G F R V S B U D I Z
H O L Y T J V S W U T F L Q N
Z E T H R O W I M O G B C A F
U Q G Y A C L H E A R T Z H Y
Scribes
Disputing
Teacher
Hear
Israel
Commandment
God
Love
Heart
Soul
Mind
Strength
Neighbor
Holy
Spirit
True and False Test
How to See Jesus
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Mark 12:28-37
Name _____________________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
1. All the scribes wanted to find some reason to arrest and kill Jesus, so they asked Him questions to trick Him. True or False
2. When Jesus began to answer the scribe, He said, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.’” True or False
3. The only commandment that anyone needs to obey is the commandment to love God the best you can. True or False
4. Jesus did not say how a person was to love their neighbor. True or False
5. If you love your neighbor, you will do whatever they ask or tell you to do. True or False
6. After hearing Jesus’ answer, the scribe told Jesus that He was right and had answered truly. True or False
7. Loving God and your neighbor are more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices. True or False
8. The scribe’s answer showed that the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God. True or False
9. Jesus condemned the scribes for teaching that the Messiah is the son of David. True or False
10. The Holy Spirit sometimes spoke to and through some of the people mentioned in the Old Testament. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True