The greatest commandment
Scripture reading for January 30: Matthew 22
“But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” Matthew 22:34-40
Religious people love rules. By using rules, they try to determine those who are ‘in’ with God and those who are ‘out’. The Sadducees had tried this using their interpretations of the law concerning marriage and divorce and the resurrection to trip up Jesus and show that He was ‘out’. (Matthew 22:23-33) Jesus referred them to the Scriptures to correct their errant world view.
In this passage, the Pharisees also tested Jesus concerning the ‘rules’. The sought to trap Him by asking which of God’s laws was the greatest. Jesus did not hesitate to answer them with the first commandment of the Law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Jesus taught that love for God involved relationship and obedience from the heart and the whole of our being. He also added a second commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He taught that these two commandments were the foundation of all the Law and Prophets–the Old Testament Scriptures. When anyone loves God, he or she will keep God’s commandments. In keeping the commandments, we demonstrate our love for God and our neighbor who is made in God’s image. The commandments of the Law simply reveal our heart as a mirror does our face!
As you contemplate these two simple commandments, how do you evaluate your relationship with God and also with your neighbors? Would others observing your life say that you loved God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? Does your love for your neighbor reflect your love for God?
Prayer: Father God, please have mercy on me today as my love for You has not been complete. In my soul I want to love You, but my mind and body sometimes take me back to my old selfish nature.. This affects my love for others. I have put myself ahead of You and others. Fill me with Your Spirit and teach me real love for You and others! Amen.
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