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Earn Others’ Love & Respect
Read Mark 12:35–37
Reflection
Jesus was having a series of conversations with the Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, and scribes. All of them were knowledgeable about Judaism. The scribes, for example, were teachers of the Jewish law and tradition around 5 BC — 1 AD. They transcribed and edited the teachings of the Old Testament prophets. The Jews were expecting a messiah from the line of King David and they expected this messiah to as great as David who grew from a being shepherd to a great ruler. Hopefully, this messiah could overthrow the Romans occupying their land. However, Jesus had just told them about the first great commandment of loving God with all their hearts, and with all their souls, and with all their minds, and with all their strength. The Savior, from the line of David, would not be equal but greater than David. He would conquer His enemies not through war but through love.
It is always easier to speak from a position of authority. If a person is long enough in a company, he tends to hold a more senior position and his staff and colleagues would tend to listen to him. However, it is not always that respect is given even if a person is more knowledgeable or more senior. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He did not use His authority to challenge the authority of the Pharisees…
