The Great Commandment

Matthew 22:34–40 ESV

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And 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. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Parallel Passages

Mark 12:28-34

Mark 12:28–34 ESV

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Luke 10:25–28 ESV

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Questions to consider

Who was the Author?

Who is the Audience?

Who is the Questioner?

Does the Answer apply to us as Christians today?

Verse 34 & 35

Mat 22:34-35

Matthew 22:34–35 ESV

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

Who was the Lawyer?

Matthew and Luke used Nomikos (Legal expert)

Mark used grammateus (Scribe)

SCRIBE (סוֹפֵר, sopher; γραμματεύς, grammateus). Someone employed for his ability to read and write. Existed throughout the ancient Near East and Mediterranean over several millennia.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Background

Some scribes were part of the sect of the Pharisees or Sadducees, and some were also priests and Levites

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Matthew

Matthew’s Gospel mentions the scribes more often than any other Gospel (24 times). In addition to portraying them as teachers, legal experts and religious authorities, Matthew highlights their shortcomings, but in some ways he portrays them in a less-negative light than the other Gospels.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Luke

Luke’s Gospel portrays the scribes as teachers of the law and legal experts.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Mark

Mark’s Gospel presents the scribes as teachers of the people who have religious authority, especially over matters of law interpretation, observance and purity.

Asking the Question Parallel Passages

Matthew 22:35-36

Matthew 22:35–36 ESV

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

Mark 12:28

Mark 12:28 ESV

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Luke 10:25

Luke 10:25 ESV

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus Answers Part 1

Matthew 22:37

Matthew 22:37 ESV

And 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.

Mark 12:29-30

Mark 12:29–30 ESV

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Luke 10:27

Luke 10:27 ESV

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

OT References to Loving God

Deut 6:4-5

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Any Differences?

Lets Discuss!

Heart

Sincerity and singleness of commitment (as opposed to a divided heart)

Soul

This is often referred to either life or other contexts such as emotions, feelings and affections. However, in this context consider this to be the Purpose of your Life.

God deserves the entire purpose of my life.

Not a supplent to our life (adding God to parts of my life)

If God is your FULL purpose in Life you will be fulfilled NO MATTER what scenario or season we find ourselves.

Strength (Might)

Hebrew word for “umph” the noise you make when you groan to lift something heavy.

You are in obsessive pursuit to love and know God in your life

Mind

Intellect, Your Brain

Important to learn to think biblically about everything

Filtering your mind with loving God - e.g. what you allow into your mind

What is LOVE?

Agapao - ἀγαπάω

Verb. To have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards

To love (care)

Love towards God in this case

When we love towards God with all our Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength - this is HOLINESS

Verse 38

Mat 22:38

Matthew 22:38 ESV

This is the great and first commandment.

Greater vs Lower

What are the implications of having greater and lower laws?

Are there other implications that can be deduced from this?

Jesus Answers Part 2

Mat 22:39

Matthew 22:39 ESV

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

OT References - love your neighbour

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

NT References - love your neighbour

Mat 19:19

Matthew 19:19 ESV

Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 ESV

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Verse 40

Mat 22:40

Matthew 22:40 ESV

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Was this the end of the encounter with the Scribe/Law Expert?

No - Wait there’s more

Mark 12:32-34

Mark 12:32–34 ESV

And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

What is significant about this passage?

The Scribe Quotes from the OT

This is expected from a Scribe who would be considered the Concordance of the OT

Not only does he quote from the OT but in his one answer to Jesus he quotes from 5 books.

Deut (6:4) He is One

Deut (4:35) & Isaiah (45:5 ; 21) No one else besides him

Deut (6:5) Heart, Soul, Might

Leviticus (19:18) Love your neighbour

1 Samuel 15 (22) Burnt Offerings

Hosea (6:6) knowledge of God than burnt offerings

The Scribe Asked a Tough Question

He Received a Good answer

He came closer to the Kingdom of God

This is good apologetics

Key Application Points

Holiness is LOVE towards God and Love towards Others.

That we must Strive Daily to Love Towards God with all our heart, soul, mind & Strength

To Love towards others as we love ourselves

To humble ourselves and know that we NEED HIS GRACE DAILY because we are unable to do the Greatest Commandment on our OWN

To know that we NEED His Grace every minute, every hour, everyday and that we must rest on the fact that JESUS went to the Cross having Fulfilled that Great Command.

Jesus Says to him You are NOT Far from the Kingdom of God

Suggesting that when we share Jesus and His love with others to not to lose hope, keep witnessing and witnessing because there will be people listening just like this Scribe. On hearing your heart and your witnessing, it just might be your testimony or witnessing that leads a person towards Christ years later. So DONT QUIT ministering Christ to others.