Matthew 22:34-40 NRSVue
34When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
The very Word of God was there before them, wanting to give them his love,
and some people were just interested in scoring points against him and
against each other. It is just possible that this same Word of God is
standing right in front of me in my daily life and I am missing him because I
am caught up in some silly games of my own.
Reflection
I might want to gaze on this scene and look with compassion at the Sadducees
and Pharisees. It might be a blessing if I can catch sight of myself among
them.
Reflection
At another time Jesus was asked, 'Who is my neighbour?' Then he told the
story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 11). Jesus expands the meaning of neighbour
to include everyone in need. His understanding of 'neighbour' is as broad as
God - thus he unites the two commandments. It is an easy answer to say that
the greatest commandment is to love God. The real insight of Jesus is to
unite the two loves of life - God and others - into one big law of love.
Reflection
The gospel today centres the message of Jesus on love; on two loves united in
each of us. Love God, love the neighbour - this is the only commandment of
Jesus. Without this, all we say we do for him is really done for ourselves.
No detail of religious observance is above this law of love. Jesus said this,
and lived it in his life. He never allowed the laws of religion overtake the
need for love. The message of Jesus is all-embracing and covers all our
relationships, both the close relationships of marriage, family and
friendship, as well as the call to love the wider world, particularly where
the needs are great.
Reflection
Jesus' religious education stressed love of the neighbour. He brought it to
its farthest - love to death. The life and death of Jesus is a
self-sacrificing love. Prayer is our moment of being open to the total love
of Jesus for all. Without a welcoming of this love, our faith cannot be
understood.
Reflection
There were more than six hundred commandments in the Jewish Law and it was often asked which of these had priority over the others. In answering the question Jesus gives not one but two commandments:- love your God with your whole heart and soul; and love your neighbour as yourself. Both answers are taken from the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18 respectively).