Mid-Term exams, Final exams- preparation and study culminating in a few hours of question and answer time before being totaled and averaged into the final grade. Remember the hand wringing, or maybe it was just me, as I worried over the scores of the tests and my final grades.
Jesus was going through a different kind of question and answer session, but no less a test. This however was not going to result in a report card or parent teacher conferences. Instead, it was designed to trap Jesus.
The Sadducees were silenced by the answer that Jesus had provided earlier, so the Pharisees got together and started to test Jesus. An expert in the law tossed out a question. Can you imagine the arrogance that came with that?
‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’
What law is the best? Which law is the most important?
The response – now pay attention, because this is Jesus answering this question….
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Man, talk about the Bible slimmed down into a few words. Love God with all your heart. Love God with all your soul. Love God with all your mind. Your heart or emotions and love. Love God with your emotions, with the feelings you feel. Love God with all your soul, with the hope and spirit that you have been given. Love God with all your mind. With your intellect, your capabilities.
Jesus didn’t stop there – he went to say, “and the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
But, that is a new answer for a new day.
No comments:
Post a Comment