All the Law and the Prophets - Matthew 22:40

Matthew the apostle wrote, “when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse forty of his book Matthew wrote how Jesus shared, “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” where we read:

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The verse reads, “On these two commandments ...” Matthew began with the words, “on these two” which refers to “the two most important and significant” “commandments” which means “orders, commands, prescribed rules and precepts”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the “two commandments” “loving God and loving neighbors”.

The verse continues, “... hang all the law and the prophets.”. Matthew added the words, “hang” which means “suspends” “all the law” which refers to “each, every, the whole and everyone of the rules producing a state approved of God” “and the prophets” which means “and all of the ones who are moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared that “every command and rule of God” and all the “prophets” declared are “suspended” upon “loving God” and “loving neighbors”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see the magnitude of the two primary laws of God. “Loving God” and “loving people” are primarily involved in every other “rule and command” of God. Those who make “loving God” their focus and “loving” their “neighbors” in a similar fashion “fulfill” all the obligations contained within God's law. God wants people to “love Him” by receiving His Son Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”, and when they do, He promises to help them “love others as they love themselves”. Let all who read these words hear and obey the commands of Jesus to “love God” and “love their neighbors”.

Next time Matthew wrote how Jesus began to ask a question, “while the Pharisees were gathered together”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.