A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

LOVE GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOR      

Matthew 22:35-40 “ One of them (a Pharisee), an expert in the law, tested Him (Jesus) with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

Life is about relationships. In the end, your life revolves around two relationships. The first is of greatest importance, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) But, there is also a second relationship that God says is also of great importance, “you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) James says that this command of God is the “royal law.” (James 2:8)  

“The scribes declared that there were 248 affirmative precepts (laws), as many as the members of the human body; and 365 negative precepts, as many as the days in the year, the total being 613, the number of letters in the Decalogue” (Vincent). But Jesus cuts through such pettifogging hair-splitting to the heart of the problem.” (Word Pictures in the New Testament) All of God’s law revolves around your relationship with Him and your neighbor. Obedience to these two commands of God fulfills in essence obedience of all of the Ten Commandments God gave from Mt. Siani. All the Old Testament develops and amplifies the two points Jesus made to the Jewish expert in the law: love for God and love for others, who are made in God’s image.   Luther wrote concerning Jesus words here in today’s devotional verses, “But you may say: Oh, it is utterly impossible for a person to keep these two commandments. Yes, it is impossible for you to keep or perform them. You cannot do it; God must do it in you, for Him it is possible.” (Note for verses 35-40 in Lutheran Study Bible) Jesus kept all of God’s Law perfectly for you! The faith you have been given in Jesus appropriates His perfect life as your own. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, lead and guide me each day to love God and my neighbor with all my heart, mind, and soul for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

Love in Christ is strong and living,   
Binding faithful hears in one;  
Love in Christ is true and giving,  
May His will in us be done. 

Love is patient and forbearing,   
Clothed in Christ’s humility,  
Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring,   
Reaching out in charity.  

Love in Christ abides forever,  
Fainting not when ills attend;  
Love, forgiving and forgiven,   
Shall endure until life’s end.  

Love in Christ Is Strong and Living // LSB 706