Which is the Great Commandment? - Matthew 22:36

Matthew the apostle wrote, “when the Pharisees had heard that” Jesus “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, ...”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirty-six of his book Matthew shared how the “lawyer” asked, “which is the great commandment” where we read:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

The verse reads, “Master, ...” Matthew began with the word, “Master” or “teacher who draws crowds around Him and instructs”. Matthew shared how this “Pharisee lawyer” identified with a title of teacher as to who Jesus was before He asked his question.

The verse goes on to say, “... which is the great commandment in the law?” Matthew added the words, “which is the great” which means “which particular, important and respected” “commandment” or “order, command, prescribed rule and precept” “in the law” which refers to “the Mosaic law or volume of laws and it's contents”? Matthew shared how the “Pharisee lawyer” wanted Jesus to answer which “commandment” in God's law was the “most important” of all.

When we considered Matthew's words in this verse, we see what seems to be an “honest question” from this “Pharisee”. Perhaps he thought to question Jesus' knowledge of the “law of God”, and if he could demonstrate Jesus' ignorance, people would refuse to follow Him. Whatever the motive, this “Pharisee lawyer” believed that he should “ask” Jesus this question. We shall see Jesus' response in the next verse, but let it suffice for now to understand there is no question too hard for God, and those who are wise shall “come unto” Him and find Jesus to have all the answers they shall ever need to “believe and trust” in Him.

Next time Matthew wrote how Jesus answered, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, ...”, 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.