Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

This passage from Deuteronomy ends with the famous Shema  (“Hear!”), in which Moses exhorts the people to loyalty to God  alone. In the context of the covenant relationship, to “love”  means this fidelity, as expressed in obedience to God’s will in the  commandments. Relationship with God leads to happiness and a  good life. This “love” of God, however, should not be construed in  a legalistic sense, in which the commandments are simply obeyed.  Rather, what God wants is wholehearted, single-minded, and total  commitment—not to the commandments, but to God. Just as God  has been completely committed to Israel, so Israel is called to be  completely committed to God. The focus here is not on laws, but on  relationship. 

The author of Hebrews has been expanding on the identity of  Jesus as the eternal High Priest, who replaces the older system of  Aaronic (or levitical) high priests. These priests “were many” for the  obvious reason that they grew old and died. But because Jesus lives  forever, he is able to fulfill this office perpetually, always there to  intercede for the believer. The quality of his intercession also cannot  be diminished: he is not a sinner who needs to offer sacrifice for  himself. Nevertheless, he has offered one perfect sacrifice of himself  for those who do need it. He is thus the perpetual and perfect High  Priest and intercessor for humanity.

We know from many sources that the question of how to sum  up the Law, the “greatest commandment,” was widely discussed  in Jewish circles in the first century. In response to the scribe’s  question today, Jesus gives what would have been a well-accepted  response, combining two commandments into one, indicating that it  is impossible to observe one without the other. The scribe develops  what Jesus says, adding that love of God is more important that  even animal sacrifices to God. Loving God is the highest priority;  one cannot substitute animal sacrifices or other religious behaviors  (such as fasting or ritual washing). These are less than worthless if  one does not love God and neighbor. 

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