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•28有一个文士来，听见他们辩论，晓得耶稣回答得好，就问他说：“诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢？”29耶稣回答说：“第一要紧的，就是说：‘以色列啊，你要听，主我们　神，是独一的主。30你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的　神。’31其次就是说：‘要爱人如己。’再没有比这两条诫命更大的了。”32那文士对耶稣说：“夫子说，　神是一位，实在不错。除了他以外，再没有别的　神。33并且尽心、尽智、尽力爱他，又爱人如己，就比一切燔祭和各样祭祀好得多。”34耶稣见他回答得有智慧，就对他说：“你离　神的国不远了。”从此以后，没有人敢再问他什么。

在今天的这个故事中，耶稣对那个到他跟前的文士说，“你离　神的国不远了”，但是离得不远，并不意味着已经进入了神的国。

这个人真的很不错。他听见耶稣和法利赛人以及撒都该人之间的谈话。他看出耶稣真的懂神学，就问他:“在所有的诫命中，哪一条是最重要的?”他不是要试探耶稣。他很想了解，耶稣对律法中最重要的诫命有什么看法。耶稣的回答基本上是这样的。首先，要相信，主我们的神，是独一的。”这是旧约中最伟大的认信，这个认信暗示我们的神有三个位格但是一位神。主，我们的神，是独一的主。然后耶稣说爱就是成全律法。爱上帝胜过一切，又爱邻舍如同爱自己。那个文士完全同意耶稣的话。

这个人认识到律法在神的国度里的重要性，他离神的国不远了，但是还没有进入神的国。他了解律法，尊重律法，但不幸的是，他只相信律法。但是只有律法是无法拯救我们的。无论我们对律法理解的多么透彻，多么想努力遵守它，但律法无法拯救我们。只有相信耶稣才可以拯救。如果你相信耶稣，那就不是离神的国不远了，而是进入了神的国。“当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救。”（使徒行传16章31节）

祷告:主耶稣，求你使我不只是一个神学家或圣经学者。求你使我因信你，成为神的儿女。阿们。

Mark 12:28-34: One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (NIV)

We used to have a saying when I was young.  I am not sure anyone still says this. “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” Jesus told this man who came to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But close doesn’t count in God’s kingdom, either.

This was a really nice guy. He heard the discourse between Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducees. He perceived that Jesus really understood theology, so he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” He wasn’t trying to test Jesus. He really wanted to learn Jesus’ perspective on what was the most important commandment in the law. Jesus’ answer was basically this. First, believe that the Lord, our God, the Lord, is one.” That was the great confession of the Old Testament, a confession which hints at our God being three persons and one God. The Lord, our God, the Lord is one. Then Jesus basically said that love is the fulfillment of the law. Love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself. The man agreed with Jesus wholeheartedly.

Close, but not close enough. The man understood the law, respected the law, and unfortunately BELIEVED IN the law. Only, the law cannot save us. No matter how well we understand it or attempt to keep it, the law cannot save us. Only faith in Jesus can. If you believe in Jesus, you are more than close. You are right on target. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, make me more than a theologian or a BIble scholar. Make me a child of God by faith in you.  Amen.