In this episode we look at the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4 and approach it as a statement of God unique role as Israel's Lord. God wanted to be the ony one Israel gave it's covenant loyalty to. It was kind of like the beginning of marriage vow, followed by a commitment to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength. The heart refers to a combination of thoughts and emotions; the soul refers to the entirety of their life; strength refers to the intensity of the love they would give with their heart and soul/life. THis is an all encompassing covenant love that Israel is being called into. And God is clear about how they would know if they were loving him with all of theor heart and soul/life: they would be loyal and obedient to God's covenant law.
Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment in the law was, quoted Deuteronomy 6, and said the second greatest commandment is like the first and greatest - to love your neighbor as yourself. It is these two commandments, Jesus says, that all the law and the prophets hang. We, like th eIsraelites, are called into this same kind of covenant of love with God where we love him with all of our heart, soul/life, and strength.
Key Passages:
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Matthew 22:34-40
Key Resources:
Video explaining the translation options for the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4

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* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music

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