What Matters Most?

September 20, 2026

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” —Mark 12:30

I love the fact that Jesus tried to simplify the truth for us by telling stories. Yet we try to deny truth by telling lies. The message in Mark 12 shows us just how selfish we can be when we want authority and attention. Yet Jesus draws us gently back by never lying to us. He spoke truth to the teachers of the law and they didn’t want to hear it so they tried to set Jesus up with some difficult questions.

Guess what happened?…Jesus passed the test! They failed miserably. Let’s listen in…

In Mark 12, Jesus told a story about a man who owned a vineyard. The owner allowed some farmers to care for it while he was away. When the owner sent servants to collect what belonged to him, the farmers mistreated them. Finally, the owner sent his beloved son, thinking they would respect him. Instead, they killed him.

This story had a deeper meaning.

God was the owner of the vineyard. The vineyard represented His people. The servants represented the prophets God had sent to teach and warn them. The beloved son represented Jesus.

The religious leaders understood that Jesus was talking about them. God had trusted them to teach and care for His people, but many had become more concerned with their own power, position and importance. They did not want Jesus taking attention away from them.

Instead of listening to Jesus and allowing His words to change them, they tried to trap Him with difficult questions. Their questions involved three “M’s”:

Money, marriage and what matters most.

First, they asked Jesus whether people should pay taxes. Jesus explained that we should give the government what belongs to it—but we must give God what belongs to Him. Money may belong in our hands, but our lives belong to God.

Next, they asked Him a confusing question about marriage after the resurrection. Jesus reminded them that life in heaven will not be exactly like life here on earth. God’s eternal plan is much greater than anything we can fully understand now.

Then a teacher asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Jesus answered that we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love others as we love ourselves.

This teacher seemed different from the others. He listened to Jesus and recognized that His answer was right. Jesus told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

That shows us something important: Jesus welcomes sincere questions. The problem is not asking questions. The problem is having a heart that refuses to accept the answer.

The religious leaders knew many things about God, but some of them did not truly know God. They could quote Scripture, wear religious clothing and pray in public, yet their hearts were filled with pride. They wanted people to notice and honor them.

Jesus warned the people not to become like them.

Then Mark 12 ends with a very different person—a poor widow. She quietly placed two small coins into the offering. Other people gave much larger amounts, but Jesus said she had given more because she gave everything she had.

The religious leaders wanted everyone to see them, but Jesus saw her.

That is the lesson for us. God is not impressed by how much we know, how important we appear or how religious we look. He looks at our hearts.

We can know Bible verses and still resist God when He corrects us. We can attend church and still make life about ourselves. Jesus does not simply want us to know about Him. He wants us to recognize who He is, trust Him and give Him our hearts.