Concordia Sermons

In verse 30, Jesus quotes what is known as the Shema, a Hebrew word meaning, “hear.” The Shema is taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which was popularly considered to be God’s greatest commandment, as Jesus affirms in Mark 12. Interestingly, when quoting the Shema, He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Loving God with your mind, however, was not a part of the original Shema! Jesus adds this! He adds this because He knows that being mentally fit is important to a healthy life. Thus, we are called to study the Scriptures, for by sharpening our minds, we also sharpen our faith.