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MATTHEW 22 (ESV)

³⁴ But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

⁴¹ Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, ⁴² saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” ⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

⁴⁵ If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” ⁴⁶ And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

REFLECTION

• Jesus continued His parables pointing out the hardness of the heart of His people to God’s Kingdom. He turned aside verbal challenges and silenced His critics.
• The entire law hinges on its central commands to love God and neighbour. All the law and the prophets spoke was intended to nurture love for God and love for one’s neighbour.  God is to be loved wholeheartedly, which is the greatest commandment.  But this is impossible without the aid of God.
• Hence the words of Augustine of Hippo, “Give what you command, Lord, and then command whatever you will”.
• In what way do you want to grow in love right now: Toward God?  Toward those in your family?  Toward the needy?  Toward yourself?  How would you do it?  Use the above prayer of Augustine of Hippo and ask God to help you grow in love in the specific way shown by the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER:

Loving Father, You chose me while I was in my mother’s womb. You died on the cross for me, an unworthy sinner. You are the source of love. I want to love the Lord with all my heart, my strength, and my mind, and put the Lord first in my life. You are the river of living water, and I am willing to receive Your love in a steady stream in You, and pass this love on to the people around me and become a blessing to others. Amen!

HYMN:

Build My Life – youtu.be/G5oim3KEnXk