Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38
Will we ever arrive at the point where we have exhausted our ability to love God or we have exceeded His worthiness to be loved? Loving God is a never ending journey that demands our all. It is a "costly" venture which pays rich dividends without fail. The more we love Him the more fully we will experience His all excelling love.
Father, Let me so experience your love today that it draws forth my love for You in ever-increasing measure.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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The Pharisees are already wounded by previous parables of Jesus. This parable of the wedding banquet portrays yet another message about the Kingdom of Heaven and those who were invited but refused to come. Being stung again by Jesus’ words, the Pharisees seek to trap Jesus in His words. Sending their disciples and the Herodians, they asked Jesus whether it is right to pay taxes to Caesar or not. It seemed that Jesus would be criticized with whichever answer He would give. Never underestimate the power of wisdom. Jesus asked for a coin used to pay taxes and asked them whose portrait and inscription was on the coin. Their answer - Caesar’s. In simple and pointed form Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” They were amazed at His answer and left Him. This world’s cleverness doesn’t stand a chance against God’s wisdom. Then the Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection, posed a question to Jesus about the resurrection. Does anyone else find that funny? In true fashion Jesus turns the situation into a teaching session. As the Sadducees leave in astonishment, the Pharisees come again to test Him. I am beginning to wonder about the sanity of these guys. It is said that insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. They have been embarrassed numerous times trying to trap Jesus. This time they bring one of their experts in the Law to test Him. “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus answers, the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” But Jesus was not finished for He tied “Love your neighbor as yourself,” as being like the first. James says we lie if we say we love God but hate our brother. These two are inseparable. Just knowing that one thing should change the way we live and work with others. I am reminded of one of the first questions asked to God in the book of Genesis. Cain killed his brother, Abel and God asked him where he was. “I do not know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Do I have any responsibility to others? I believe the implied answer is YES. In the body of Christ (the church, Christians) we can be certain that we have direct care responsibilities for others in need. The Bible is pretty clear on this position. Jesus here relates that to being equal or like loving God. Now, Jesus takes the opportunity to ask the hard question. Remember, Jesus entered the city with the title “the Son of David.” Now he asks the Pharisees about whose son the Christ is. Their answer is “the Son of David.” Jesus then refers them to a time when David, speaking by the spirit, called him Lord. In their bitterness and traditional-set minds, many of the Pharisees missed the knowledge that would have set them free. They knew they had been defeated and did not ask Him any more questions. Questions help me think and contemplate ideas and truth. How much truth have we been in touch with so far in Matthew? How much is relevant to where I am now? How much have I applied? How do I apply the truth that God wants me to love Him with all my being and others as I love myself? All of these questions must create change.
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