THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS Matthew 22:34-40 INTRODUCTION 1. In the temple during His final week prior to His crucifixion, Jesus was questioned by various religious groups... a. The Pharisees and Herodians sought to entangle Him with a question about paying taxes - Mt 22:15-22 b. The Sadducees tried to trip Him on the subject of the resurrection - Mt 22:23-33 -- His answers caused people to marvel and be astonished - Mt 22:22, 33 2. The Pharisees tried once again, this time sending one of their lawyers... a. Testing Him as to which is the great commandment in the law - Mt 22:34-36 b. Jesus replied by offering Two Great Commandments 1) The first pertained to loving God - Mt 22:37-38 2) The second pertained to loving ones neighbor - Mt 22:39 -- Upon these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets - Mt 22:40 3. While we no longer live under the Old Law, these Two Great Commandments are still very important to the Christian... It is proper to ask, therefore, do we love God and our neighbor as we should? Do we understand what is involved in loving God and our fellow man? Perhaps by reflecting upon these Two Great Commandments we can find the answer to such questions... I. THE COMMAND TO LOVE GOD A. UNDER THE OLD COVENANT... 1. The Israelites were expected to love God (Deut 6:5)... a. with all your heart b. with all your soul c. with all your strength d. with all your mind - cf. Mt 22:37; Mk 12:30; Lk 10:27 (the Septuagint has mind, soul, strength in Deut 6:5) -- Emotionally, physically, intellectually, they were to love God B. WHY DONT PEOPLE LOVE GOD? Some people say they love God but want nothing to do with Jesus. However, since the Father and Son are one, no one who rejects Christ can love God (John 14:1). Although the Lord’s love extends to all people, many reject Him because: 1. They don’t know Him. 2. They’re afraid of the Lord’s judgment. 3. They’re uncomfortable because their sin doesn’t mix with His holiness. 4. They don’t want to alter their lifestyles. 5. They think loving the Lord would inhibit their conduct. 6. They feel uncertain about God and the future because they have no assurance concerning what awaits them at death. 7. They can’t understand why the Lord allows tragedies, natural disasters, wars, and accidents to happen. What they don’t realize is that ultimately God has a purpose in whatever He permits. C. WHY SHOULD WE LOVE GOD? The Lord is an awesome Heavenly Father, And we cant truly love other people until we first love the Lord because He enables us to love the unlovely. And the more we learn about Him, the more reasons well discover to love Him. Consider that: 1. The Lord created us. The sovereign Ruler of the universe wanted each one of us, and He is the only reason we exist. 2. He’s given us His Son. Jesus came into the world for two primary reasons—to show us the Father in a deeper, more personal way and to give His life as a ransom so we could be forgiven and have an intimate relationship with the Lord. 3. God has made commitments to us. This alone should provide the motivation we need to love Him with all our hearts. For example, we know: 1.) The Lord will never leave nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). 2.) He’ll supply all our needs (Phil. 4:19). 3.) God will answer our prayers (Matt. 7:7; John 14:14). 4.) He has forgiven us all our sins (1 John 1:9). 5.) The Lord has given each of us at least one spiritual gift that enables us to live productive, fruitful lives and accomplish whatever He calls us to do. 6.) He fills us with the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live in a way that pleases and honors Him. 7.) Christ has prepared a place for us in Heaven and will someday come back to take us there (John 14:2-3). 8.) The Lord will give us beautiful and perfect resurrected bodies. 9.) Through Jesus, we can have personal relationships with God that transcend any other human relationship. Illustration: Footprints in the Sand One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, Youd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I dont understand why when I needed You most You would leave me. The Lord replied, My son, My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you. Footprints, Author Unknown Gods love is undeniable, but how about your love to Him? II. THE COMMAND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR A. Jesus’ Command to Love our neighbor. 1. This was a new commandment: Christ’s instructions to the disciples raised the standard for how we treat others--thinking of their needs before our own. 2. Jesus told us to love our enemies: That doesn’t mean we have to like how they act or think. However, we are called to love even those who oppose us. Jesus hated the hypocrisy of the temple money changers (Matt. 21:12-13) but still had compassion on them, just as He did on all of Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37-38). 3. The distinguishing characteristic of a believer should be love (John 13:34-35). First Corinthians 13:1 says that if we don’t have love, we are like a noisy gong--loud, unpleasant, and meaningless. 4. We are to walk in sacrificial love. More than our words, our deeds should convey God’s love (Eph. 5:2). B. Loving as Jesus Did 1. Selflessly: Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). Our love should not be centered on what someone can do for us, but how we can bless him or her. 2. Understandingly: Jesus knew the limitations of His followers, which is one reason He was able to have compassion on their failings. We should show the same consideration for those who mistreat us or live sinfully. Palaging may dahilan kung bakit ang tao ay nag re-rebelde sa Diyos. Kung sisikapin natin na unawain sila, hindi mababago ang totoong kalagayan nila sa harapan ng Diyos ngunit, matutulungan natin ang ating sarili na mahalin sila. Following the Lord’s example means learning to see people as they are and caring for them anyway. 3. Forgivingly: There are countless ways we can take offense at what others do or say. Forgiveness isn’t usually easy, but someone who genuinely loves will also be forgiving. At the next opportunity to extend mercy, we should remember that Jesus was willing to cleanse us of all our sins. Also, hanging on to bitterness and resentment will negatively affect our health, not just our relationships with God and the offender. 4. Sacrificially: In Mark 8:43, Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” The highest form of love is to lay your life down for another. Genuine love almost always involves some level of sacrifice. That doesn’t mean we must give in to all the demands of others; instead, we should seek to give them what will ultimately be most beneficial. CONCLUSION: Illustration: He Was No Burden An American who was walking down the streets of a Chinese city was greatly interested in the children, many of whom were carrying smaller children upon their backs, and managing at the same time to play their games, says a writer in the Youths Companion. It is too bad, the American sympathetically said to one little fellow, that you have to carry such a heavy burden! Hes no burden, came the quick reply; hes my brother. If a little Chinese boy can carry and care for his brother and refuse to consider him as a burden, surely we ought not to think it a burden to carry our little brothers, the weak and the needy ones, who look to us for help. Let us rejoice as we carry one, and say, by our actions, `Hes no burden; hes my brother. —Rescue Journal. How do you see your neighbors right now a burden or a brother? A burden or an opportunity to show Gods love to them?
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:10:13 +0000
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