The First And Second Commandments

No, not from the Decalogue; but the two commandments which summarize all of the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22:34-40

• Knowing that the Sadducees were unable to trap Jesus, the Pharisees decided to try their hand. Was it pride that made them pick up where the Sadducees had failed so miserably?
• A young Pharisee scribe, expert in the law of God (or thought to be so), advanced and, testing Jesus, asked what seemed to be an innocent question: what is the great commandment in the law?
• Jesus answers briefly and fully: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 – love the Lord wholeheartedly and without reservation, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. These two commandments summarize all of man’s duty to God as revealed in the law and prophets.

Meditation Points:

Did Jesus pass the test? Was his knowledge of the scriptures accurate and complete?

What about you? Did you pass the test? Is your knowledge of the scriptures accurate and complete?  Do you love the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? Do you love your neighbor as yourself?  Remember, upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Whatever other Bible knowledge we may have, if we love not God with all our being or love our neighbor, such Bible knowledge is inaccurate and incomplete.

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