Matthew 22:34-40 The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?
“But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Well, the Pharisees are chortling! Jesus has thoroughly embarrassed the Sadducees, reinforcing the position of the Pharisees on the validity of the resurrection in the process. Great! But can the Pharisees trip him up somehow? Shemuel, the lawyer, offers to interrogate Jesus and moves forward while his colleagues back him up. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Shemuel asks, secure in his extensive knowledge of Mosaic and common law. Jesus gazes at Shemuel with a winsome loving smile.
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Now Shemuel is flustered. What a simple answer! Surely Shemuel can pick these statements apart somehow; after all, he has a reputation as a fearsome investigator in the courts. But the longer Shemuel considers Jesus’ answer in light of all the laws he knows, the more Shemuel realizes that Jesus is correct. And then Jesus goes on the offensive.
Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?
“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?
If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.”
The Pharisees are thoroughly confused! This morning was to be the great unveiling of Jesus the imposter; instead, the Pharisees strongly suspect that they are the ones looking foolish. Earlier Jesus has already stated that God is the God of the living, not of the dead. Now Jesus is adding that the Christ that David has referred to in his psalms is also referred to as the Son of David; yet, how can the Christ be a son when David calls him Lord?
There’s a law about holes: if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging! At this point, the Pharisees recognize that they are in a hole with no way out and quietly leave.
Notice something about Jesus’ answers: not once does Jesus mock those who are questioning him. Jesus treats these people and their questions with respect and dignity. Certainly, Jesus realizes his questioners are out to embarrass him; however, that doesn’t mean that Jesus has to embarrass them by reducing them to verbal rubble.
Many times we are tempted to answer viciously when someone is questioning our faith; yet, by doing so, we are abandoning the example set by Jesus. Notice that throughout all these exchanges documented in Matthew 22, Jesus never descends to name calling, nor does he vaunt himself over those whom he has actually defeated in verbal battle. The key for Jesus is love; Jesus loves these men who are trying to harass him and expose him as a fake. Jesus knows he is the Son of God and needs nobody to back him up on that. It’s possible that the love these men are feeling radiating from Jesus is as confusing as his wise answers to these tough questions.
If we are to be true disciples of Jesus, we must follow in his footsteps as far as criticism is concerned. We don’t have to worry about what to say, for Jesus promises that he will give us the right words at the right times. What we have to do is to refuse to become spiritual bullies. Treat our critics as sincere seekers who only want the truth. Leave the criticism to Jesus, for he is the only one who knows human hearts.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to do all things in love, respecting all those around us, including those who verbally attack us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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