10/23/2017
In Matthew 22: 35 Jesus is once again confronted by a teacher of the Law. He challenged Jesus to explain which is the greatest of the commandments. Any Jew who couldn't answer this question should be drummed out of the faith. After all, it's number one on the commandment list. How could they think that Jesus somehow wouldn't know it? Of course He answered correctly, and then went on to explain that the second was nearly as important: we are to, first of all, love God, and then, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus went on to explain that all the Law and the Prophets hang upon these two commandments. It's like a bridge with abutments on each river bank: remove either and the bridge falls. But us we think about it, wouldn't obeying the first one with all our being make us automatically obey the others? After all, if we break any of the commandments, then we aren't really loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. Perhaps it is over simplification on my part, but all of the commandments are centered on that first one. If we truly loved Him, we wouldn't hate our neighbor, we would honor our parents, we would keep the Sabbath, wouldn't covet or lie or commit adultery, or break any of the other ones. But then, since God, in His perfect wisdom, knew that it is impossible for we imperfect mortals to keep all of them perfectly. So, He gave us a way out. He gave us a Savior, and if we believe in Him, we will be saved. He was pointing out to the Jewish leaders that knowing the commandments isn't enough; it is living up to the spirit of them. Praise God for Grace!
