The Greatest Commandment

24. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 ”Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  

Our text today flows out of yesterday’s story.   The statement “hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees” refers to the incident in yesterday’s text when Jesus silenced the Sadducees concerning the question on the resurrection.   After the Pharisees saw the failed attempt of the Sadducees, they came with their own test by sending an expert of the law to ask Jesus what was the greatest commandment in the Law? 

Jesus responded that it was to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and the second is similar to it which is love your neighbor as yourself.   Jesus said that all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. 

The Hebrew bible which is called the TANAK was divided into three sections; the law, the prophets and the writings.  When you see the term “book of Moses” or “law of Moses” in the New Testament, it refers to the first five books of the bible.  To the Hebrews, the most authoritative scripture was first the law and then the prophets.   So when Jesus makes the statement that all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments, it refers to that body of literature contained in the first five books of the bible and the writings of the prophets.   

What was the test?  Moses was considered the authority of the law.  God chose Moses out of all the men of the earth to give his law to so Moses was highly admired.   The Jews thought that they could trap Jesus by getting him to go against the Law of Moses or teach something different.   We know that when we were studying the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated that he came not to tear down the law but to fulfill.    

Jesus did the exact opposite of what the Pharisees thought.  He quoted directly from Moses in answering the question.  Not only did he quote from the Law of Moses but he quoted the most familiar passage of scriptures known to the Jews which was the Shema. 

Once again, Jesus strategically amazed them with his response.  Tomorrow, we will continue our study.  Mark’s account of this story teaches us that from this point on, they did not test Jesus further.   He brilliantly silenced them. 

Be encouraged! 

God Bless!!!!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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