Deuteronomy 6:1–9; Psalm 119:1–16; Hebrews 7:23–28; Mark 12:28–34

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Deuteronomy 6:1–9

The Greatest Commandment

Now this is zthe commandmentthe statutes and the rules1that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that ayou may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and bthat your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, cas the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Hear, O Israel: dThe Lord our God, the Lord is one.2 You eshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And fthese words that I command you today shall be on your heart. gYou shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. hYou shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. iYou shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.


Psalm 119:1–16

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose kway is blameless,

who lwalk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those who mkeep his ntestimonies,

who oseek him with their whole heart,

who also pdo no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your qprecepts

to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may rbe steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

sThen I shall not be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart,

when I learn tyour righteous rules.2

I will keep your statutes;

udo not utterly forsake me!

Beth

How can va young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

10  wWith my whole heart I seek you;

let me not xwander from your commandments!

11  I have ystored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

12  Blessed are you, O Lord;

zteach me your statutes!

13  With my lips I adeclare

all the rules3 of your mouth.

14  In the way of your testimonies I bdelight

as much as in all criches.

15  I will dmeditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your eways.

16  I will fdelight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.


Hebrews 7:23–28

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues jforever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost1 kthose who draw near to God lthrough him, since he always lives mto make intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, nholy, innocent, unstained, oseparated from sinners, and pexalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, qfirst for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ronce for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men sin their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made tperfect forever.


Mark 12:28–34

The Great Commandment

28 uAnd one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, Which commandment is the most important of all? 29 Jesus answered, The most important is, vHear, O Israel: The Lord our God, wthe Lord is one. 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. 31 xThe second is this: yYou shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment zgreater than these. 32 And the scribe said to him, You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that whe is one, and athere is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all bthe understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, cis much more than all dwhole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. eAnd after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.