The Great Commands, Love
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Prologue
There are many words of Command in the Bible,
Commands from God,
Commands from Jesus,
Commands of the Disciples, and the
Commands of Paul.
This is the first of many "Great Commands" postings to be published from time to time.
I begin with the Greatest Command.
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38This is the first and greatest commandment.39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Among the many things Jesus did, He was a master of using few words to bring His opponents to a sad end with their questions.
In this series of the Commands of Jesus we will see carefully worded theology that Jesus gave in His time that will last for all times to the end of time. The truth of which we cannot question.
Words that create a newness in God. Where the relationship with God was the Law, now Jesus' words define a New Personal Relationship God wants with His believers.
Jesus, He was and is the Master of the Word.
In reading this passage, it is good to remember that Jesus is in His last week of life and He knows it. The Sadducees and Pharisees are distressed at the popularity of Jesus and are trying to trick Jesus into saying something that would allow them to arrest Him for blasphemy.
The Sadducees and Pharisees had been put to shame in asking questions about paying taxes to Caesar and a question about the resurrection, to which the Sadducees did not believe in. In both cases, the Sadducees and Pharisees were made to look like fools and had withdrawn from the verbal sword fight with Jesus, a most patient Jesus. Now, the Pharisees are seen trying to trick Him one more time, so they send in a lawyer, "an expert in the law".
For the Pharisees and the Temple Rulers, 'the Law' found in the Old Testament gave these people ruling predominance in power and position over the Jews of the day. However, here in quick order, Jesus reduces the role of the Pharisees and Sadducees to the sidelines of history. Jesus says the people's trust and faith in God has nothing to do with all the little laws the Pharisees diligently followed and taught for over 500 years. With this pronouncement of 'Love', Jesus removed the Sadducees from the equation of setting requirements of Temple worship in the Godly relationship of the day. It just made the Pharisees and Sadducees more upset with Jesus because He became more influential with the people. Something the Pharisees and Sudducees could not allow to continue and felt they must stop, or so they thought.
In the power of His words as He had done so many times before, Jesus' Words were again changing the
theology of the ages.
Words the with new meaning, astonishing, and amazing.
Words from Jesus giving totally new and astonishing
meaning to our our relationship with God.
Words destroying the work of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Words silencing the "expert in the law" that through
Jesus, "the law" summed up in one word, "Love".
Words redefining the Mosaic law Jews lived by.
Words, not to be questioned because
the Words were verified by God
in raising Jesus from His death.
The Words of Jesus are not the best way to achieve our Close Personal Relationship with God, as "best" implies there are other ways.
Make no mistake,
because the words come from Jesus and because
they were verified by God, we can be most assured
they are the only way to our Personal Relationship with God.
"Love God, Love Others."
Thanks be to God.
© lonnie coggins
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ldcoggins@gmail.com
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Intro-
There are many important commands of the Bible directed at us. Jesus had a special ability to say just the right words in perfect timing to destroy his enemies. From the devil in the desert to the Temple leaders, He always put them on the run. We do well to not only understand what He said but the circumstances in which He responds to questions. These 'commands' messages will appear from time to time. We begin with the Greatest Command from Jesus. Click the link to learn more and you are welcome to share these messages on your fb page as you are lead to do so.
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-great-commands-of-bible-love.html
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