Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 22:34-46. A lawyer tries to trap Jesus with a question: which commandment is the greatest? Jesus doesn’t take the bait. He answers with two.
“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 the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV)
Why the order matters
He doesn’t say “be nice to people” and leave it there. The first commandment is love for God, with everything. The second flows out of it. When I try to love people on my own strength, I run dry fast. When I’m filled up with His love first, it overflows. Romans 5:5 says the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. That’s the fuel.
Then Jesus asks His own question
In verses 41-46 Jesus turns it around: whose son is the Messiah? David, “speaking by the Spirit,” calls Him Lord. Nobody could answer, and nobody dared ask Him anything else. The Man they were trying to trap is the Lord David saw seated at the right hand.
My take
This Sunday, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you fresh with the Father’s love. Then go find somebody to pour it on. Heart, soul, mind, and neighbor. That’s the whole thing.
Have a blessed day! And Happy Hacking!
