“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 Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
In the days leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus spent time in Jerusalem. The location receiving most of his care and attention was the temple. In Matthew 21, Jesus rode into town as the King. Then he went straight to the temple and put on display his new plan for worship.
The current system of sacrifice had run its course. God himself was on the scene in the form of Jesus–the sacrifice, the high priest, and the mediator–everything we’ve ever needed to stay in relationship with God.
This was good news to everyone except the high priests and Teachers of the Law. They were the ones with the power and they wanted to keep it that way. This renegade Jesus shook things up too much. If they weren’t careful and even a little devious, he would steal all their authority right out from under them.
So, what does a Pharisee do when grasping to retain power? Hold a debate. Jesus had gotten the last word over the elders, the chief priests, and even the tolerated Sadduccees. Now the time had come to send in the big guns–not just a Pharisee, but a Law studying Pharisee. This guy would trap a man in his own words if anyone could.
“Which is the greatest commandment, Teacher?” he asked, the title of Teacher carrying a slight dig because after all, what could he possibly learn from the likes of Jesus?
Jesus’ reply zings with grace and truth. The first word out of his mouth is love. Love God. Love your God, and do it with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. Don’t just love God half way leaving time and energy for other things. Love him with all that you have, all that you are.
Jesus simplifies the Law that these human leaders had made so complicated. Love first and then you’ll naturally get done all the other important things the Law, or commandments, require. Things like not stealing, honoring others, and worshiping God alone.
The Pharisees were proof that a person could keep the Law yet still be hateful, critical, and hostile. But a person full of love has no room for those heart conditions. They are kind, patient, and gentle.
When we grow in this love toward God, we will love other people too. Love swallows up all the pressure to get it right as well as the fear of getting punished for breaking a rule. Love is freeing. Love for God frees us. Love of others frees them. This was the point for the list of commandments in the first place, to live in love.
