Skip to main content

The Great Commandment (Matt. 22:34-40) January 27, 2019


If someone asked you what's the main purpose of the Bible what would you say?

The Sadducces read the Bible for knowledge but they had a missing link.

The purpose of Scripture is to make us more like Jesus.

The purpose of Scripture isn't just to know things, but to be transformed, to be more like Jesus.

                        34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 

The Pharisees saw Jesus shut down the Sadducces in our scripture passage last week.  
Pharisees had 631 commandments they followed and they were all ranked in order of importance!
We don't rank Scripture but we do talk a lot about who's the greatest athlete, sports team, etc...
But, there's always someone else who has a different opinion who thinks differently than you.
So, what's the most important thing?

You were created to love God. = The most important thing.

                        37And 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. 38This is the great and first commandment. 

Notice there's a list here: heart, soul and mind.  This is to say we are to love God with all we are.   The central point here is to give all to God, all we are.  This isn't a new command for us.  Do you love God with all you are? Loving God with all you are is of the greatest importance.

All religions are based on a set of rules to make God happy, but Christianity is based on love.  God demonstrated His love for us and He calls us to love Him.

What's it mean for something to be first in your life?  
Children know this well.  We have a longing to be first place.

What is of central importance?  To love God.

How do we know we love God?

You are most like Jesus when you love other people.

                        39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Summary of The Bible: Love God and Love People.

Love your neighbor as yourself.  We generally think of neglecting ourselves and putting others first, but here, He says, "as yourself."  Self-Care is important!

The reason we need worship is for ourselves.  We need to nourish our souls so we can do what we are called to do.  Nobody else will care for your soul.  It's your own responsibility.

Luke 10 - When a lawyer heard this message he comes to Jesus and asks what must he do to have eternal life.  Jesus answered him as was written in the law to love God and your neighbor as yourself.  

"Who is my neighbor?" the lawyer asked.

Jesus answered his question with a story:  The Good Samaritan

Which one was his neighbor of those who passed by?  Answer: The one who crossed over the boundaries.  

We all have people we don't love.  You know how I know this?  There are some people you don't even know yet, so they aren't loved.  

Get to know people, love them and share the Gospel with them.

Love means crossing boundaries.
Love God and Love Others.
Do you love God?

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for submitting a comment on our blog! Comments will be evaluated and then posted hopefully within 24 hours of receiving them. Blessings!

Popular posts from this blog

New Mask Sewing Ministry Needs Your Help!

3/31/20Update on Mask Sewing Ministry:  There are 5 women and 1 man sewing to provide masks for local health care workers.  Seven agencies have been served so far.  All are local agencies except fr one in Mocksville.  Over 200 masks have been sewn and donated so far.  Requests are still coming in and they'll continue to sew until the need no longer exists.  Needs: Financial support for the purchase of thread and machine needles, men's polo knit shirts, tight weave and NO NYLON.  We've also added a sign on the containers the masks are in.  


How all of this started:

When church member, Penny Rose, who works in a certified nursing facility, called church member Janet Myers asking about the possibility of sewing masks for their staff, Janet gladly accepted the task!  Janet is also working with a liaison at Randolph Health and Moses Cone to sew masks and face shields.   The great thing about fabric masks is they can be laundered and reused.  Volunteers are needed to help sew.  If…
Post a Comment
Read more

Nothing is Impossible: Luke 1.26-38 (ESV)

It’s a season of hope, Christmas is coming.As we celebrate our veterans today we are reminded of hope.The reason people go into our military is hope; we have a hope for a future.We believe we can make a difference.God gave Elizabeth hope.She was told she was going to have a son.Elizabeth is six months pregnant and an angel is speaking to Mary.Hope isn’t just from stories 2000 years ago.God entered into our world.Right now, in His presence we too can find hope.What is God doing?God spoke to Elizabeth and then to Mary.Hope is beginning to grow.People are asking questions.
God brings hope.Are we open to the possibility that God can bring hope into our lives?
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 
Luke is the writer of this Gospel.He is writing to people like you and I, people who do not have a Jewish background.This is written…
Post a Comment
Read more

Corona Caroling

Church member, Alison Hargett has led a group to minister in a local assisted living center.   They've led Bible School for the residents for a few years now and this has turned into a monthly Bible Study for residents with her, her daughters and some other moms and their daughters as well.  In this season of social distancing and lockdown for assisted living facilites, Alison's group got creative and went, "Corona Caroling" last week.  They sang outside the windows to the residents. 






The windows couldn't be opened but they sang loud and the residents loved it!  They did a couple of songs with American Sign Language and brought smiles to faces.  They've made plans with another facility for this coming week and look forward to doing this again.  "We can't do our normal Bible Study but we figured out a way to bring them a little joy anyways!" said Hargett.

After the group did this they received another invitation to sing at another facility.  Th…
Post a Comment
Read more