October 22, 2025
Two Questions - Part 3
Matthew 22:37-40
10/22/2025
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.'' (ESV)
A Pharisee, a lawyer, asked Jesus, ``Teacher, which is the
great commandment of the Law?''
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. This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the
Law and the Prophets.''
On Monday I suggested that we can summarize Christianity
with two questions. The first is: What is our condition as we
compare ourselves to God's Law? Unfortunately, no one can say
they have always loved God with their whole heart and soul and
mind. We have failed, thus stand condemned. Likewise, no one
has always, and in every circumstance, loved their neighbor with
the same intensity and care with which we love ourselves.
The law acts like a mirror, showing us our sin, showing us
that we cannot, by our own works and desires, be reconciled to
God. No matter how we try, in our hearts, in our souls, in our
minds, we place ourselves above God and neighbor. Even if we are
active in doing good works, there is always that selfish part
which is sin.
Fortunately, tomorrow and Friday we will look at the second
question, ``Who is Jesus?'' In Him and because of His death and
resurrection, we are forgiven, we stand perfect before God.
May our Lord grant us wisdom to confess our sins to receive
forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus. Amen.