2026 Pentecost Devotions III
Friday, October 23
Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and 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?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
“… 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him …”
There was an old adage in business that said if a well-dressed individual from over fifty miles away came into the office with a briefcase, that person must be an expert. While the distance and carrying case may have changed over the years (and perhaps even the gender), there seems to be the belief that only someone coming from a distance can address the difficulties and problems.
That was certainly the case in our lesson today. The Sadducees, Pharisees, Hellenist, and even the Herodians had all struck out with Jesus. None had been able to trap him into saying or doing something that would get him into such trouble that he could be legitimately arrested. So they brought in an expect in the law. Dressed in his finest robes, carrying his briefcase full of Torah law, and with a chip on his shoulder, he puts before Jesus another test question: “Which of the commandments of the law is the greatest?”
Of course, Jesus answers with the two greatest commandments – Love God and love neighbor. Excellent!
Sometimes, we too are tested. Typically, they’re something less than an expert. Instead, they want to see if we believe what they believe, know what they know, see things like they see them. In such cases, the answer Jesus gives certainly takes precedence. Love God, Love neighbor. What more is needed?
Prayer: Lord, you have given us the greatest commandments – to love You and love our neighbor. Write these commandments on my heart and let them fill my life this day and always. Amen.