And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:39 (NIV)
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. – Matthew 22:39 (KJV)
Theme: Priorities
Recall from last week that Jesus himself called Deuteronomy 6:5 the “first and greatest” commandment. This week we see what Jesus said was the second greatest…
During an exchange captured in Matthew 22:34-40, the Pharisees challenged Jesus to tell them which of God’s commandments was the greatest. Although the question may seem legitimate, the Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus. They didn’t think he could provide the answer because their “expert” rabbis and lawyers had debated this topic for many years and couldn’t agree. The Pharisees had their own legalistic interpretation of God’s Scriptures and preached strict adherence to hundreds of man-made religious rules and traditions. You might say that they were so focused on the letter of the law that they missed God’s intent.
But Jesus answered their challenge and clarified his Father’s priorities. Here’s the whole exchange in context…
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
– Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)
In the final sentence of this passage Jesus made it pretty simple to understand. Our priorities should be to love God with everything we have and love one another…everything else flows down from those two commandments.
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter:
