I've been thinking, pondering a sermon for Sunday. It seemed to be a good topic to consider the two great commandments identified by Jesus (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27). Aside from the slight differences between the gospels, the thing that suddenly struck me was what Jesus didn't say.
The 'great' commandment, to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soull and with all your mind..." quotes Deuterononomy 6:5. But the quotation properly begins at 6:4. It's the Shema - the great summary of Jewish faith, and it begins with
"Hear O Israel, The Lord your God, the Lord is one..." and then it continues with
"and you shall love the Lord your God..." as Jesus quotes.
So why does Jesus leave out the opening of the Shema. Does he assume that his hearers will already know it? (Quite possible. Quite a Rabbinic thing to do.)
Or is he aware that his followers will have to wrestle with the meaning of monotheism and Jesus' identity, and so avoids adding more complications to their wrestling?
I'm still thinking...
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