Matthew 22: 34-40
Can you imagine how frustrated the Pharisees and the Sadducees must have to hear Jesus answer their questions? Each time they tried to make Him stumble by giving Him a question they thought would trick Him, Jesus came back with an answer that made these learned men retreat from Him with their heads hung in shame. They hoped to humiliate and silence Jesus, but each time, Jesus, silenced them.
The Jews were governed by the 10 Commandments that God gave to Moses. The law dictated their way of life, and the prophets gave hope to Jews for the coming Messiah. By the time Jesus lived, the law had been multiplied into so many pieces and parcels, that life was not simple for the everyday Jew. Regulations ruled their lives. The Sadducees and Pharisees dictated these laws. As a practicing Jew, Jesus obeyed these laws, but He knew that His Chosen people had forgotten the true meaning of the Commandments and that was the law of love for God, neighbor, and self. Knowing that we cannot give what we don't have, Jesus reminded these learned men that: 1) Love of God was the most important rule to follow in anyone's heart; 2) that each person needed to love her or himself; and 3) when each human being loved God and loved themselves, then each human being should share these gifts of love with their fellow man. In this way, God's Love and Peace would reign on earth through the love of His children for Him and the rest of humankind.
Simple, isn't it? Everything comes down to Love.
Thank You, Jesus, for reminding us that Your rule is simple. Your rule is love. Help us to open our hearts to the simplicity of Your challenge to us: To Love God, to love ourselves, and to love everyone with the same love that we have for ourselves. Amen.
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