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

God's Perfect Timing by Janet Myers

How often have you said to someone “your timing is perfect?” In the last 6 weeks, I have experienced God’s perfect timing.  During a dinner conversation at a Wednesday Night Fellowship Supper, a church member, who I will call Lydia, shared a touching story about a special gift she received some time back. While Lydia had every good intention of using this gift, time passed, it only collected dust and took up space. Lydia listened that night as I shared about my love for sewing and how I especially enjoyed applique and creative sewing projects. Several weeks later Lydia approached me with a wonderful surprise!  She wanted me to have that special gift that she had spoken about at dinner one night. You guessed it! It's a sewing machine!  Not just any sewing machine, but a machine that has all the bells and whistles that a seamstress dreams about!  Little did I know that this sewing machine would later be the work horse that has enabled me to sew over 400 face masks ...
1 comment
Read more

Armenian Pastor Arman's War Testimony

  Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord My name is Arman . I was born in Yerevan, capital city of Armenia. I am 41 years old. I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ already about 27 years. I have had Water Baptism in 19 95 , in the Armenian Baptist Church of Yerevan. I am married already over 17 years and we have a son of 12 and a daughter of 10. I want to share how God has saved my life and lives of those with me. As some of you already are informed, on 27 th of September, 2020, Azerbaijan (in the help of Turkey) started a War against Armenians, it attacked on Artsakh- Nagorno Karabakh Republic (de facto Independent Armenian Country) . Azerbaijan involved in this War military advisers. They had weapons and armored vehicles from Turkey. Special Islamist terroristic groups- mercenaries from Syria were brought to fight against Armenians from Syria. They used much more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) (bought from Israel) also. It was really a terrible war...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Alabaster Jar Matthew 26.6-13

Jesus is about to pay for our sins and restore us to the Father. In the next several weeks there’s a turn towards the cross.   Matthew 26 is days before the cross.   The setting is Bethany.   Jesus and His disciples spent time in Bethany.   Several times per year Jerusalem would swell with people because of festivals and events.   For example, at Jesus’ birth Jerusalem was full.   This is the scene.   Jerusalem is packed.   Jesus had friends in Bethany, outside of Jerusalem.   The home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus was located there.   They are in a different house close by for the final preparation for the cross.   Luke tells us this is the primary purpose of Jesus’ coming to this world. In Matthew 26 the opening verses are a powerful demonstration of what it means to value Jesus.   How do we value Jesus? How do you know what something is worth?   We can search online to get a feel for what something is worth. ...
Post a Comment
Read more