Tag: Matthew 22:34-40
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.
Love is the greatest commandment!
Scripture reading for May 5th: Matthew 22, Psalm 90, Proverbs 28
Matthew 22: 34-40 “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.”
God is Love and to love is to be like Him! The Pharisees were seeking to trap Jesus so that they might accuse Him of blasphemy or call into question His authority and understanding of Scripture. A lawyer sought to trap Him with a question about which was the greatest commandment. Jesus answered him simply by quoting Scripture. The first and greatest commandment was to love God personally as Your Lord, and totally, with all your being. The second was like it, showing love for your neighbor, made in God’s likeness, as yourself. According to Jesus, love was the fulfilment of all the Law and Prophets! This is in fact, true as love for God and neighbor encompasses all other commandments and is God’s heart!
Psalm 90:13-14 “Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on Your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days.”
Prayer: Father God, I rejoice in Your amazing love, demonstrated to me through Your Son and His willing sacrifice for the sins of the world and my own sin. Forgive me for not always allowing Your love to flow in my heart. I have not obeyed You as I should and have certainly failed to show love for my neighbors at all times. Fill me today with a fresh anointing of Your love and teach me to love like You loved me!
Proverbs 28:9 “If one turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.”