Matthew 22: 34-46
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”
While the Pharisees were gathering together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘
If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can this be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
A Thought
The Sadducees and the Pharisees were all still trying to trap Jesus. The Sadducees had been silenced not knowing the Scriptures about the resurrection. So now the Pharisees, teachers of the law, ask which is the greatest commandment. Jesus answers that love is the first, greatest commandment. First to love the Lord God with everything within us. Then to love your neighbor as yourself and all the other commandments will be obeyed. Now Jesus ask them whose son is the Christ? When they replied ‘David’, Jesus silenced them by asking ‘why did David call him ‘Lord’ if he was his son? Jesus told the people to follow the leaders in what they teach them concerning the Law, but not to follow what they do. Love is the true test for all of us to live by, God first, next our neighbor and ourselves last.
Our Prayer
Father we fall so short when it comes to loving you and others as we should. It seems we are guilty of thinking of ourselves before we consider you or others. Help us to be intentional about having our heart, soul and mind filled with your love. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
