Matthew 22:34–46 (NKJV, also appearing in Mark 12:28–37; Luke 20:39–44 )
34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 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.”
Jesus is again posed a question by the Pharisees, seeking to either learn or trick the Lord. They asked Him which is the greatest commandment, perhaps seeking to find a way to accuse Him of placing undue emphasis on one thing. Instead, He sums up the law by naming love as the greatest commandment. Specifically, He identifies loving God as the greatest, then loving others as the second. This, again, confounded the purposes of the Pharisees and showed the depth and simplicity of the Son of God. This is the best way to describe what God requires of His followers: love.
It is interesting to note the various areas of the human being that are required to show love: heart, soul, and mind. In the book of Mark, this exchange also includes loving God with all your strength. This signifies the wholistic nature of one’s love for and submission to God. We give Him all. We love Him fully, holding nothing back. This love is all-encompassing, rooting out all other allegiances and loyalties and loves. Even the love with which you love others is filtered through the love of God. You love others better with God’s agape love. They see Him, not just you, when you love rightly. So love God first, others second, and let all your love be God’s love.
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?
45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
Jesus then turned and asked the Pharisees a question: Who is Christ and whose Son is He? They said He was the Son of David, and Christ then asks a follow-up question asking why David would call Him Lord. He asks one additional question: If David called Him Lord, how can He be his Son? These rhetorical questions establish the Lordship of Christ. He is Lord over all. We are to love Him, and He is to lead us. Do not presume to command God or demand of Him. Love Him! Follow Him, and let Him lead. Then, eternal life, and life abudantly will follow. Again, love God, and let Him lead!
Artwork from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.22.37-39.NIV
and https://www.kcisradio.com/2016/07/27/matthew-2237-daily-verse/
LIVE@5 – OCTOBER 28, 2021
Devoted To You 