The Pharisees ask this question of Jesus to trap him by pitting God’s laws against each other. They hope that Jesus will choose one of the many commandments, implying that the others aren’t as important.
Jesus deftly avoids this pitfall by showing that individual laws aren’t goods in and of themselves. Rather, they serve to demonstrate what God has spoken throughout his Word: It is not sacrifice or oblations that he desires but the conversion of our hearts.
When viewed in this way, we can see that merely following the Law doesn’t make us God’s people. Through the love we demonstrate for him and for each other, we show that we are Christ’s disciples. Today, may we pray that we may be mindful of how God’s commandments lead us to grow in love and compassion.
Love the Lord God with all of your heart and all of your mind and all of your soul and also love your brother and sister as yourself These are the greatest of the commandments. I love You Father I love You Father I love You Father Amen Amen Amen in Jesus Holy Name Amen
Thank you Jonathon for the reflection. I love the thought of continuous conversion of our hearts. Jesus saw their hearts. He sees our hearts. May he continually let me know the grace of conversion. Continued prayers for Suzette and Kaleb. ReCAPTCHA is really giving me grief today. It totally thinks I’m a robot. I’m not! Amen.
Lord God please help me to accept all peoples like you did wether they be nice or mean kill them with kindness is what we say now thank you Lord for all you do for me and my family.
Lord, please hear our prayers for those in Lewiston, Maine and the surrounding areas. Also our continued petitions for the Ukraine and Middle East, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in the Maine, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
Thank you Johnston. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to love God and our fellow man. As the disciple Paul wrote in 1Cor:13 - There are three things that last, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love. Lord, help us to love as you love.
Living faith family I will pray for Cheryl and your friend Suzette, Peggy and your Mom and Julie M and your grandson Kaleb. At holy hour this afternoon. Going to my 2nd graders this morning Lord give me patience and inspiration to fill their hearts with love for God and neighbors. Ken
Happy Sunday Ken! Thank you for your kind words about my Mom yesterday. The little ones were happy to sing Happy Birthday to their” Big Nana” in Heaven. You’ll do just great with your second graders today and throughout the year. It’s because you know how to relate to little children. It’s a beautiful gift God gave to you.
Julie M praying for your grandson Kaleb that our Lord will bless him in his rehab and the full recovery of his leg. Also Cheryl praying for your friend Suzette that God will help to ease her pain and give her and her family the strength to get through this difficult time. She is so blessed to have you in her life.
To Julie M from yesterday- I am praying for Kaleb and all this entails for him and all your family! I have grandkids too and they are so precious to me! I pray for them constantly and can understand your worry and angst.
The question is what motivates us to obey God. Do we love or just want to be recognized?
Excellent question, Troy, “What motivates us to obey God?” For me…I can’t and am not able or capable of obeying God…but only with the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit and no one else or nothing else!!! How about you, Troy, “Do you love or just want to be recognized?”
Yes. There are a lot of wolves out there and for me at least it is easy to be drawn into arguing at a base level. This is like the Sadducee’s or the Pharisee’s behaviour. St Paul says we are to preach the Crucified Christ. Period.. Full stop. Conversion of our hearts is the goal and the Way. Our behaviour and words are what people see. Do they see Love? Is love of God and my neighbour my goal and method?
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These verses came to mind! *** Hosea 6:6, “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know Me more than I want burnt offerings.” *** Proverbs 21:3, “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” *** Matthew 9:13, “Then He (Jesus) added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” ****** Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ *** It is to love God first, then love your neighbor second! I cannot love my neighbor the way God loves my neighbor until I love God first! Do you know the difference?