Matthew 22: The King and His Law (5)
Pray Psalm 2.7, 8.
“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.’”
Sing Psalm 2.7-9.
Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
I will declare the LORD’s decree.
He said, “My Son I have begotten Thee.
Ask Me, and I will give every land for You to rule as I have planned.”
Read Matthew 22.1-40; Meditate on verses 34-40.
What do these two “loves” require of you?
Prepare.
1. According to Jesus, what is the purpose of God’s Law?
2. Did Jesus seem to think that purpose had ended? Or was set aside?
Meditate.
Now it was the Pharisees’ turn. They put one of their “lawyers” up to asking Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (v. 35) This was intended as a trap door, through which, no matter what He said, Jesus would fall into some disputation with the Pharisees about which law had primacy among the Ten Commandments. That would give them an opportunity to parade their “knowledge” of Scripture and to entangle Jesus in an endless debate in which they felt sure they would have the upper hand.
The “first and great commandment”, Jesus explained, is from Deuteronomy 6.4,5. This passage, known as the shema (because it begins with the Hebrew word, shema, or hear), was known to everyone as a summary of the first four of the Ten Commandments. The Law of God commands us to love God, Jesus answered. Nothing is more important than that.
Then He went an “extra mile” with the lawyer and quoted from Leviticus 19.18 to summarize the remaining six commandments: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark tells us that the lawyer (“scribe”, Mk. 12.32-34) remarked positively on Jesus’ answer, and Jesus commended him in return. This was not the first time we’ve seen this test, as Luke shows in Luke 10.25-31. In Luke’s account, Jesus did the asking, and a “certain lawyer” (was it this same guy?) gave the right answers. So in our text for today, Jesus answered the Pharisees’ challenge with their own standard teaching about the two great commandments. How could they arrest Him for that?
The great commandments tell us how to read all the rest of God’s Law, from the Ten Commandments to the religious laws and all the civil statutes and rules, and all the rest of the Old Testament (“the Prophets”). In other words, God’s Law—and all His Word—is all about love! And since love is the mark of a true disciple (Jn. 13.35), we would do well—and can expect to be great in the Kingdom (Matt. 5.17-19)—to learn, obey, and encourage others in the Law of God, the Law of love.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Often, sharing a mutual enemy can create the strangest of bedfellows.
Thus, the Pharisees and Sadducees having significant theological differences,
usually standing firmly in their rejection of one another, here, have tag-teamed ridiculously together,
to try and take Jesus down. Bless their hearts.
First up, the Pharisaic disciples and Hellenistic Herodians (Matt. 22.16).
Second, the resurrection-denying Sadducees (Matt. 22.23).
Third, a Pharisee adjacent lawyer is back at bat (Matt. 22.34, 35).
“Hey, batter, batter!”
But Jesus, in all His mercy, grace, meekness, love, and perfection did not respond as we might;
but He carefully spoke just the right words in this extremely judgmental (and vaguely humorous) setting.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25.11).
“A soft answer turns away wrath…” (Prov. 15.1).
Jesus answered the lawyer’s question in real time;
but His Words were also spoken so that, for the rest of time,
all future believers would understand the importance of God’s Law—
it is still in effect; it has not been abolished.
Which is The Great Commandment?
What follows as a close second?
How will life best be lived?
Who is Supreme and to be followed and obeyed?
Where can we learn how to please the LORD?
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22.37-40).
“With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!”
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Ps. 119.10, 2)
Follow Jesus (Jn. 12.26).
Stay in the Word (Ps. 119.11, 105).
Obey His commands—the Greatest, and all the rest (Matt. 22.37-40).
Live in God’s love—never align with the godless, shared enemies notwithstanding (Prov. 12.26).
Do not test the LORD (Matt. 4.5-7; 22.18, 35).
Know God’s pleasure as you know Him better each day (Phil. 2.13).
“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Ps. 147.11).
“…walk worthy of God Who calls you into His Own Kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2.12).
Reflect.
1. Why does the Law of God matter so much for Christian life?
2. Do you agree that all the Law and the prophets boil to the two great commandments? How should this affect your reading of the Law and the prophets?
3. What would you say to a Christian who said the Law of God didn’t matter anymore?
Christ says that all the Law and the prophets depend on these two commandments; not that He intends to limit to them all the doctrine of Scripture, but because all that is anywhere taught as to the manner of living a holy and righteous life must be referred to these two leading points. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 22.40
Pray Psalm 2.1-6, 9-12.
Thank God for King Jesus, Who is bringing His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, according to His holy Law of love. Pray through the Ten Commandments to begin this day.
Sing Psalm 2.1-6, 10-12.
Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
Why do the nations vainly rage, conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their couns’lors stand against the LORD and His Right Hand:
“Now let us cast His yoke below, His Kingdom authority overthrow!
Xast off His Law, reject His Word; no more be governed by this LORD!”
The LORD in heaven laughs in wrath at all who embark on this cursèd path.
His angry Word to them is plain: “Yet shall My King in Zion reign!”
Be wise, O kings, O judges, hear, and tremble with joy, serve the LORD with fear.
Embrace the Son, keep His wrath at bay, or you shall perish in the way.
His wrath is kindled like a flame at all who refuse to bow to His Name.
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who trust in Him!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is focusing on how we can improve our powers of reasoning. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
