I know this is a large portion of scripture to be covering in one reading, but I want to leave behind many of the details in order to discover an overall lesson Jesus is trying to teach. Many groups including the Pharisees, Herodians, scribes, Sadducees, and the chief priests were conspiring ways to entangle Jesus (22:15-33). They were all very angry at how Jesus had captured the hearts of the people and now they were trying to think up the most bizarre questions to entrap Jesus through something He would say. In the midst of all these crazy questions, Jesus responded in the wisest way that even they were astonished at how He answered (22:22,33,46). Did they not realize they were messing with God? But, there is one question asked by a lawyer (scribe who interpreted the law) which is worthy of our attention. He asks Jesus “which is the great commandment in the law?” Instead of responding with “thou shalt have no other gods before me” or another one of the commandments, Jesus gives a summary of all the commandments. Jesus says “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Jesus establishes this as the first great commandment. Profound! If we love God, we will keep all the commandments! He goes on to say “the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love God and love others. At the end of His answer Jesus says something that is easy to miss – “on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” He was telling these people that the whole Old Testament is based upon these two commandments. Every book of the law and every book of the Prophets were all trying to teach one thing – to love God and to love others. I realize we tend to look at the Bible and walk away feeling like there are a lot of things to obey; however, when it comes down to it, there are only those two things to remember. All of our attitudes, actions, and reactions should be based on our love for God and our love for others. Since I love God, I won’t put other gods before Him, worship idols, or take God’s name in vain. Since I love others, I will honor my mom and dad. Since I love others, I will not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet. Jesus was trying to expose the real reasons God gave the commandments. Some people look at the do’s and dont’s of the Bible as burdensome, but in reality which one of us wants to be disrespected as a parent or have our spouse commit adultery? No one in their right mind would want these things to come on them! Realize that God gave us the commandments to experience life the way it was meant to be.
Dear God, keep loving You and loving others at the top of my list!
