“Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’”
“Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:28-30 NKJV
FIRST. Webster’s dictionary defines this word, “first,” as meaning “preceding all others in time, order, or importance, such as earliest, … having the highest or most prominent part among a group of similar voices or instruments.”
Jesus answers the scribe’s question of what is the first commandment by quoting in Mark a passage from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
So Jesus is establishing in the hearts and minds and hearing of the Jews that in order of all importance and precedence, that this command comes first. It is first because it sets in this realm an explanation of the first order of Who God is and how He is. It also sets in this context, how we are to relate to and give prominence and place to Him, the One True God.
In both the Shema (Deut 6:4-5) and where Jesus is quoting in Mark 12:28-30, the injunction is to “Hear!” Meaning that a command is given to everyone who has ears to have the capacity to hear this truth and receive it. It is not just a command, it is an empowerment.
Because this is the first commandment, it sets in order our whole relationship to God and reveals Who He is. If there ever was a strategy for the enemy to attack and bring confusion concerning the identity of God in His plurality it would begin here….That is because this commandment sets in motion all of our relationship with God.
Now here is the fascinating thing about the notion of “One God” expressed in these passages. It is plural.
The word used for God is used three times in the Shema, and in each instance it is a plural form. Also, there are two words for “one” in the Hebrew language: echad and yachid.
The word, “echad’’” is is a compound unity (one made up of parts) meaning several, or many in one. Echad means to unify as “to collect one’s thoughts,” and means properly, “united.”
In contrast, “yachid”, the other word for one, means absolutely and indivisibly one. Yachid is always used to mean absolute one in the Bible, but it is never used to denote the Unity of God (as in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).
So here are some examples of compound unity as meant by the word echad: one cluster of grapes; the congregation assembled as one man; one day being night and day; man and wife as one flesh; the shell, white, and yolk being one egg; the making of man as a trinity… spirit, soul, and body …made in the image of God.
So what the Shema is telling us is that God is a plurality, one comprised of a unity between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God, but three co-eternal and co-equal Persons who are the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence.
This plurality is reflected in these three names for God: Elohim; Adonai; and El SHaddai. These names are each plural. Elohim is used 2,500 times. Adonai is used 90 times. El Shaddai is used 48 times.
From this understanding we can begin to see how God as Three Persons functions throughout Scripture.
I encourage you to investigate this topic like a Berean, making sure what you believe and understand.
One great source I found is the Rock of Israel Ministries and their reference book “Jewish Faith and the New Covenant.” It is what I used for this blog post. But there are many such sources.
Above all, realize that as the Father sent the Son to manifest Him to the world, so you and I have been also sent by the Son to continue His work. But our Companion, and Helper in this work is now the Holy Spirit, Who dwells and abides in us. Jesus and the Father are in heaven. It is the Holy Spirit of God who remains with us now, until Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church.
Begin to see and understand the dynamics of these Three… today!
This is great, thank you. I have a question about John 14:23, where Jesus says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
Do you not believe that the Father and Son come to dwell in us now, provided that criteria is met?
Hey Brigitte I appreciate your question. I think how exactly this all happens is part of the mystery of the Trinity… but if you look alittle further down, verse 26 of that Chapter, we see that the Holy Spirit whom the Father sends in the name of Jesus will teach us all things. So while the Father has sent, in Jesus’ name, the Holy Spirit to be with us, I believe He is Who we are dealing with and being dealt with. Remember, They have one purpose. But it is the Spirit Who in Jn 14:16-17 dwells with us and is in us. Also look at Jn 16:13-15. This begins to demonstrate how They work together.
Jesus says in verse 15, everything that the Father has is Mine. The the Holy Spirit takes what is Jesus’ and He reveals, discloses, and transmits it to us…
This is more than just sharing information about Jesus, or things. The Holy Spirit has the ability to actually transmit the things and even Presence of Jesus to us… how that happens is the mystery. But I believe it.
I apologize for going on… but I also know that the Holy Spirit can transmit the reality of truth to our understanding, so I would recommend you ask for that insight for this topic. He likes to show us truth according to the word Himself.
Blessings on your journey of discovery my friend!
Sandra
Amen. Thank you. Yes these things are worthy of all our attention and thought…it is a mystery and you could never “go on” about it. I sure appreciate your response. Thank you for your blog and your time…
Pressing on toward the goal to win the prize –
Your sister in Christ,
~Brigitte
Hello Sandra,
Thank you for this Blog.
It was meant that I opened it today as I’ve been thinking about this correlation a lot in the past few weeks – as I have throughout my life and coming up with different resolves that would satisfy my thinking. This is wonderful and perfect information that I can go forward in learning with and know my thoughts will be on the right path.
Joselle
Hey Sandra,
So, do you see yourself interacting with the Holly Spirit as opposed to Jesus or the Father. I mean, are the three separate in your mind when you are praying or do you have them wrapped up as one? I guess I don’t have clear distinction between the 3 and find that mostly I feel like I’m interacting with Jesus….maybe the divine plan as we can certainly relate to Jesus more then we can relate to the other two? So, I guess, maybe a better question is, what is the point of seeing them as 3 or 1?
Ken
Well I understand this quandary. But indeed the word depicts them as Three in One as my blog alluded to. I do understand now Ken, that the Holy Spirit literally front ends, and is the enabler of all my interactions with the Father and the Son. I will send you some Scriptures that will clarify this too. Thanks for the read and comment Ken. We’ll get there… 😁
Heard this explained this way, interested in your feedback…
When a new believer is drawn to and believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes along side that person enabling them to receive the Word (the Word is the seed). Depending on the heart condition (parable of sower) Christ is formed in that individual and yields 100, 60, 30. (Some believe this to mean percentage or level in which Christ is formed…100 being full maturity). The more the person yields to the Spirit and turns away from the world and flesh, the greater the growth. At some point, that person is no longer on the throne of their heart and has yielded totally to Christ (not my will, but Thine be done) Since the Father only dwells in Christ, once we are totally surrendered to Jesus, then the Father also is in us (I in them, they in Me…Me in You, You in Me). This is all the work of the Holy Spirit
I know I haven’t put that together very well, but I’m wondering if you see any glaring inconsistencies with scripture.
I think this is roughly true… maybe needing slight change.
It is the Holy Spirit Who draws us to believe in Jesus, Who has begun to draw us potentially way before we turn to Him fully and receive Him. So like the Spirit was hovering over the face of the waters during creation, and was a critical part, so He also is a strategic factor in our salvation. He was present and vital, as He is in every stage of our growth.
But at salvation, we get the fullness of the Godhead dwelling within us… Col 2:10. Maturity is the process of us dying to self (Jn 12:24-25)and yielding to become a spiritual being (Rom 6:11-23)(where the Holy Spirit reigns in our heart and mind through our spirit) – this is essentially the kingdom of God – His rule in our hearts and mind.
The goal in all of this is Col 3:10…. walking out a life where we are continually renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
This is how we continually put on the new man. We continue to put off the old, stay open to the word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit…
All of this is a process in terms of our being changed, yet I believe we are given all things for life and godliness at the moment of salvation. It is simply a matter of are we remaining open in an active way to the word and the life of the Holy Spirit… and not becoming hard or embittered by the life encounters we have.
Some books that you might find helpful:
– The Holy Spirit, by John Bevere
– The Release of the Spirit, Watchman Nee
– The Spiritual Man (all three volumes), Watchman Nee
– Spiritual Knowledge, by Watchman Nee
I would probably start with the last one.
These are all available through Amazon on multiple platforms…
But they have given me a baseline of understanding that I treasure…
Blessings Brigitte!
Thank you for the book recommendations. I’m really enjoying Watchman Nee. ❤
Oh good! He is amazing! He has helped me a great deal! Be blessed!
So Ken, as to Who I am praying to or dealing with, and the general issue of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit… I really received the best insight from John Bevere’s, The Holy Spirit.
In it he describes God the Father as the architect (Jn 15 uses vinedresser), Jesus is the foreman, and the Holy Spirt is like the workers who build.. He manifests.
Going back to Jn 15, the Father is the vinedresser. As the architect, He holds the blueprint of what the vine will look like. He shares that with Jesus, Who is the actual vine – the body of all believers and the Head. The Holy Spirit is the One with us still on earth, bringing about (manifesting) all the Father’s plans with all of Jesus’ assets. Jesus said in Jn 16:15, all that the Father has is mine. Then He explains how the Holy Spirit takes all that is Jesus’ and declares it to us (Jn 16:4-16).
The Three all work together to achieve God’s plan. They have different roles and are different Persons, but are a Unity.
As far as prayer, the word shows us to pray to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I keep this in mind as I pray, but for me it means I lift my heart to the Father, for the Glory of Jesus, and in the Power of the Holy Spirit….
Jn 17 is another vital source of understanding for me…
– Jesus was asking to be glorified, that He in turn would glorify the Father
Jesus separates the Father as the only true God, and Him as the son who was sent (Jn 17:3, Heb 10:5,7,9).
-Jesus said He finished the work (as the foreman) which the Father gave Him Jn 17:14
-So then Jesus asks you be returned to the glory which He previously had with the Father Jn 17:5
Jesus manifested the Name of the Father.Jn 17:6 He did this personally but also along with the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit is left to continue to manifest. ( This is why Jesus in Jn 14 and 16 that He will ask the Father to send another helper (Jn 14:16). John Bevere explains that this term another reveals the similarity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in their work. Helpers, comforters, that both come alongside us…
Ultimately the point in seeing Them as Three in One is that is truth that the word gives us. We can see it in many Scriptures. One that is right at hand is Jn 14:21.
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me (Jesus). And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I (Jesus) will love him and manifest (by the Holy Spirit) Myself to him.
All Three are represented here. But as is the beauty and humbleness of the Holy Spirit, He lives to manifest Jesus – not to take center stage Himself…
This is further evidenced in Jn 15. You don’t directly see the mention of the Holy Spirit here, but He is the pruner, the cleanser, the lifter upper, the taker awayer, and the One Who brings forth fruitfulness…
As all things of the Father’s are Jesus’, and the Holy Spirit takes of those things and declares, transmits, and manifests them… this is what is seen in Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the [Holy]Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forebearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence)….
Then it goes on to say…”if we live by the Holy Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit…”
All of our living and walking in this present life is predicated on the Holy Spirit, Who is continually applying the atonement of the Cross of Jesus and all His benefits and promises and word to us for honor and glory to the Father (the architect), and we prove ourselves to be true followers of Jesus (Jn 15:8).