Sunday, February 24, 2008

The Greatest Commandment includes the Greatest Commandment to Parents

Deuteronomy 6
The Greatest Commandment
1 “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 2 that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’[a]
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one![b] 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.


Visual: in a suit, I illustrated verse 7 (kids got into this): "teach...diligently...when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

By the way are there any other positions or activities other than these? Not really. This command is a comprehensive, 24/7 priority #1 activity for ALL parents. God's First Rule for Parents!

Question to ponder: what are some ways we can actually do this in our society?

This requires us to, first of all, have a daily relationship with our children, and spend time with them, while we are about our daily work.

Jesus referenced this as the greatest commandment in the new testament. Even though he's quoted as only saying the "Love the Lord your God" part, the entire Scripture passage would have been immediately recalled to the minds of his listeners at the time.

By the way, the above passage includes what's known as the Shema (prayed by devout Jews daily, typically first thing in the morning, various versions...this is the shortest version): “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!"

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