The Question of Love: Amos the prophet, a Torah scholar, and Rabbi Jesus

But God had set me apart from birth and called me through his grace But God had set me apart from birth and called me through his grace. He was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach about him to the Gentiles. Galatians 1:15-16a (CEB)

Truly, because you crush the weak,         and because you tax their grain,     you have built houses of carved stone,         but you won’t live in them;     you have planted pleasant vineyards,         but you won’t drink their wine. I know how many are your crimes,         and how numerous are your sins—     afflicting the righteous,         taking money on the side,         turning away the poor who seek help.

I hate, I reject your festivals; I don’t enjoy your joyous assemblies. But let justice roll down like waters,     and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5: 11-12, 21, 24 (CEB)

The Lord your God will help you succeed in everything you do—in your own fertility, your livestock’s offspring, and your land’s produce—everything will be great! Because the Lord will once again enjoy doing good things for you just as he enjoyed doing them for your ancestors, and because you will be obeying the Lord your God’s voice, keeping his commandments and his regulations that are written in this Instruction scroll, and because you will have returned to the Lord your God with all your heart and all your being.  Deuteronomy 30:9-14 (CEB)

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, reported to Israel’s King Jeroboam, “Amos has plotted against you within the house of Israel. The land isn’t able to cope with everything that he is saying.  Amaziah said to Amos, “You who see things, go, run away to the land of Judah, eat your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s holy place and his royal house.”

Amos answered Amaziah, “I am a not a prophet, nor am I a prophet’s son; but I am a shepherd, and a trimmer of sycamore trees. But the Lord took me from shepherding the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’  Amos 7:10,12-15

An expert in Torah stood up to try and trap him by asking, “Rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” But Yeshua said to him, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read it?” He answered, “You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your understanding; and your neighbor as yourself.” “That’s the right answer,” Yeshua said. “Do this, and you will have life.”   Luke 10:25-28 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”  Luke 10:25-28 (CEB)

An expert in Torah stood up to try and trap him by asking, “Rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” But Yeshua said to him, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read it?” He answered, “You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your understanding; and your neighbor as yourself.” “That’s the right answer,” Yeshua said. “Do this, and you will have life.”   Luke 10:25-28 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Israel, listen! Our God is the Lord! Only the Lord! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (CEB)

You must not act unjustly in a legal case You must not act unjustly in a legal case. Do not show favoritism to the poor or deference to the great; you must judge your fellow Israelites fairly. Do not go around slandering your people. Do not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed; I am the Lord. You must not hate your fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your fellow Israelite strongly, so you don’t become responsible for his sin. You must not take revenge nor hold a grudge against any of your people; instead, you must love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:15-18 (CEB)

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Jesus asked, “What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” Then the Torah expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37