The First and Great Commandment - Matthew 22:38

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”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirty-eight of his book Matthew shared how Jesus said, “this is the first and great commandment” where we read:

This is the first and great commandment.

The verse reads, “This is the first ...” Matthew began with the word, “this” which refers to “loving God with all you heart, soul and mind” “is the first” which means “is the first in rank, time, place, influence and honor”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared “loving God with all your heart, soul and mind” is the greatest command of “influence and honor”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and great commandment”. Matthew continued with the words, “and great” which means “most abundant and of greatest degree” “commandment” which means “order, command, prescribed rule and precept”. Matthew shared how Jesus added that “loving God with all your heart, soul and mind” is the “most abundant and important” prescribed rule and precept of the law.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus declared “loving God” with everything a person possesses is the “primary and greatest” of all the “commandments”. This should be everyone's priority in life, and those who have God in “first place” and receive His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” shall receive “everlasting life” with Him. Those who are wise shall search their “hearts, souls and minds” to be certain the priority of loving God is primary in their lives.

Next time Matthew wrote how Jesus continued, “the second is like unto it”, 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.