Commandments

Big Idea of the Message: Jesus cuts through confusion and complexity to focus our lives on two all-encompassing truths that are meant to work together: love God and love others.

Trap

As we break into this narrative we find Jesus being confronted once again by the religious elite;

While their question seems innocent on the surface it is rout with long debated concerns;

Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)

His question seems innocent enough but reflects an intra-Jewish debate on how to rank and/or summarize all of the scriptural commandments and on whether such ranking is in fact possible at all (cf., e.g., m. Hag. 1:8; b. Ber. 63a; Mek. 6). Moreover, given Jesus’ radical views on the law, an open-ended question such as this would surely elicit some remark by which Jesus would indict himself.

So the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus in hopes that they can find something to use against Him;

How do we know it is a trap because of who is asking the question, a Pharisee - a nomikos which is translated lawyer;

Normally the Pharisees would send one of their disciples to question Jesus and return with His response;

But who are the Pharisee;

“a sect within early Judaism, becoming active around 150 BC and enduring as a distinct party until being subsumed into the Rabbinic movement around AD 135.” Bradley T. Johnson, “Pharisees,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

But as we see Jesus cuts right to the point of this question.

God and Neighbor

What Jesus points to in His answer is the hing of everything else - a love for God as He quotes Deuteronomy 6:5

Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Here in v. 37 Jesus uses the word “mind” instead of “strength” - now some translation may say “understanding” yet this does not change the intent;

Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)

Neither form of the text implies a compartmentalization of the human psyche. Rather, both refer to wholehearted devotion to God with every aspect of one’s being, from whatever angle one chooses to consider it—emotionally, volitionally, or cognitively. This kind of “love” for God will then result in obedience to all he has commanded (cf. Deut 6:1–3, 6–9).

Deuteronomy and Jesus are saying we should love God with every part of selves;

But why - because a complete love for God will over flow into every part of life as a reflection of Him;

This type of love for God will also bring about obedience to Him;

Notice this, the Pharisee asked for one commandment but Jesus responded with two;

The second part of His answer v. 38 comes from Leviticus 19:18

Leviticus 19:18 NKJV

18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Now the reason for Jesus quoting the Old Testament is because the Pharisees had an extreme understanding of the Old Testament;

Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)

Jewish interpreters had long recognized the preeminent value of each of these laws; Jesus apparently was the first to fuse the two and to exalt them above the whole law (though Philo, Spec. Leg. 2:15, comes close to doing this).

The point seems to be that when we love God loving our neighbors should easily follow;

Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)

These two commandments are the greatest because all others flow from them; indeed the whole Old Testament “hangs” on them. In other words, all other commandments are summed up and/or contained in these.

How is your love today?

Love

In 1984 Tina Turner released “What’s Love Got To Do With It” it was on her 5th soul album;

The chorus of this song says;

“Oh-oh, what's love got to do, got to do with it? What's love but a second-hand emotion? What's love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart, when a heart can be broken?”

In the secular world the word love has been diminished and watered down;

But the love that Jesus is speaking of is pure and deep;

So what is the biblical definition;

LOVE - A feeling of deep affection. A central theme in Scripture and Christian theology and ethics. Defines our relationship with God and dictates how we should treat others. Benjamin I. Simpson, “Love,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

This love is beyond your favorite pizza, candy, car, or flattery it requires a heart attitude;

Matthew 1. True Discipleship versus Harsher Condemnation for the Jewish Leaders (19:1–22:46)

The relationship of all the Old Testament to the double love commandment shows that there is a hierarchy of law that above all requires one’s heart attitude to be correct. If this is absent, obedience to commandments degenerates into mere legalism.

“Something is broken in the American church, and we would be foolish to pretend it isn’t directly related to our failing to love God and love others at the same time.” (Ministry Pass Our House Sermon Series)

Many churches have become like the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:1–7 NKJV

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

In v. 4 Jesus said they (Ephesus) had left their first love which was God;

“Loving action must align with biblical truth, or we miss the heart of the gospel and sell a version of Jesus that won’t sustain us when we grow weary in doing good.” (Ministry Pass Our House Sermon Series)

Matthew 22:37 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

So how is your heart attitude today?

Application Point: The greatest commandment means that the believer’s love of God ought to overflow to loving others in a genuine way. Our theology and our service do not stand alone but work in tandem. Good theology leads to loving action, and loving action is rooted in good theology.

The Cross