The document discusses the concept of 'first' in the context of biblical commandments, specifically highlighting Jesus' teachings on loving God and one’s neighbor as the foremost commandments. It explores various New Testament passages that illustrate the prioritization of spiritual reconciliation, seeking God's kingdom, personal introspection, and responsibilities towards others. The document concludes by prompting the reader to reflect on their own priorities in life, emphasizing the importance of putting God first.

1. FIRST OF ALL (1)

2. Mark 12:28-31 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?" 29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all
the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the
LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 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. 31 And the second, like it, is
this: 'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' There is no other commandment
greater than these.“

3. FIRST
A. First can mean first in order - Genesis 8:13 And it
came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the
first month, the first day of the month, that the waters
were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the
covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface
of the ground was dry.
B. First can mean first in importance - Matthew 22:35-
40 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question,
testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the
great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him,
"'You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the
second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the
Law and the Prophets."
C. What lessons can we learn from “Firsts” in the New
Testament?

4. I.FIRST BE RECONCILED
Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring
your gift to the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against
you, (24) leave your gift there before the
altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then
come and offer your gift.

5. II. FIRST SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore do not worry,
saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What
shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
(32) For after all these things the Gentiles
seek. For your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things. (33) But
seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall
be added to you.

6. III. FIRST REMOVE THE PLANK
FROM YOUR EYE
Matthew 7:3-5 And why do you look at
the speck in your brother's eye, but do
not consider the plank in your own eye?
(4) Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me remove the speck from your eye';
and look, a plank is in your own eye? (5)
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from
your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eye.

7. IV. FIRST BIND SATAN
Matthew 12:24-29 Now when the Pharisees heard it
they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons
except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." 25 But
Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to
desolation, and every city or house divided against
itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is
divided against himself. How then will his kingdom
stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by
whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they
shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by
the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has
come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong
man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first
binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his
house.

8. V. FIRST WILL HAVE BEEN LAST
Matthew 19:29-30 And everyone who has
left houses or brothers or sisters or
father or mother or wife or children or
lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a
hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are first will be last, and
the last first.

9. VI. FIRST CLEAN THE
INSIDE OF THE CUP
Matthew 23:25-28 Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the
outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are
full of extortion and self-indulgence. (26) Blind
Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and
dish, that the outside of them may be clean
also. (27) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but
inside are full of dead men's bones and all
uncleanness. (28) Even so you also outwardly
appear righteous to men, but inside you are full
of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

10. VII. FIRST FEED THE CHILDREN
Mark 7:25-28 For a woman whose young
daughter had an unclean spirit heard about
Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The
woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by
birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the
demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to
her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not
good to take the children's bread and throw it to
the little dogs." 28 And she answered and said
to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs
under the table eat from the children's crumbs.“

11. VIII. FIRST COMMANDMENT
Mark 12:28-31 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?" 29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the
commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD
our God, the LORD is one. 30 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.
31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other
commandment greater than these.“

12. WHAT IS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE?
A.Are your priorities straight?
B.Are you putting first things first?
C.Are you putting God’s things first?
D.JOY = Jesus first, Yourself last, Others
in-between.