Then one of the lawyers, who had been listening to these discussions and had noted how well he answered, came forward and asked him, 'Which commandment is first of all?'
Jesus had been fielding questions from some Pharisees and Sadducees who were out to trap him into saying something damning and this teacher of the Law was impressed by the way Jesus handled the questions. Maybe he could see how genuine Jesus was and his question was a real one. Or maybe he, too, was trying to trap Jesus. We don't really know.
Vs. 29-31
Jesus answered, 'The first is, "Hear O Israel: the Lord our God is the only Lord; love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbour as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.'
1. Jesus replied by quoting a passage that the teacher of the Law knew very well - from Deuteronomy 6: 4 - which placed loving God as the top priority.
God should come as our top priority before anything else - family, church, friends, job, hobbies, duty as a citizen of our country, helping others - no matter how important and worthwhile these things are. We need to trust God and know that he would never ask us to neglect the other areas of our life to their detriment. Sometimes it may seem that to put God first means that we will be neglecting our duty in other areas. What if family misses out on our company or care? It may be that our family needs to learn to stand on its own feet! Or there may be someone else who can do a task for our family better than we can! God knows what is best for all of us.
2. Jesus went further in his answer to the teacher of the Law. He had asked only which was the greatest commandment. Jesus told him what was second in importance as well. Jesus knows what we need to know, not just what we are asking. He understands our motives and our worries. I wonder what was worrying the teacher, what duties he had that he felt took him away from his worship or his work for God.
In stating the second most important command, Jesus' answer tells us that loving, or caring for, our neighbour as much as we care about ourselves is very imporant. In fact, it is so important that it is linked with our love of God. God loves our neighbours as much as he loves us - whether we like them or not, whether we feel they deserve his love or not! Just think: do we deserve his love?
But, loving our neighbour should not be a burden to us. It will flow naturally from our love for God. We will see our neighbours through God's eyes when we are in close communion with him.
3. If we are to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, it is necessary that we love ourselves! That doesn't mean that we should think too highly of ourselves, or 'big-note' ourselves. It doesn't give us licence to be selfish or self-centred. But it does mean we must care about our own well-being and take care of ourselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually, if we are to properly take care of others.
V. 32, 34
The lawyer said to him, 'Well said, Master. You are right in saying that God is one and beside him there is no other. And to love him with all your heart, all your understanding, and all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself - that is more than any burnt offerings or sacrifice.' When Jesus saw how sensibly (NIV: 'wisely'; The Message: 'insightfully') he answered, he said to him, 'You are not far from the Kingdom of God.'
The Teacher of the Law was close to the Kingdom of God, but not quite there. His agreement with Jesus was on an intellectual level, but he didn't see who Jesus was. He did not acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but simply as a master Teacher or Rabbi. We need to accept Jesus as Lord of our lives if we are to belong to God's kingdom.
As people of God's kingdom, we are to obey this greatest commandment. It is not an option for us to choose: it is a commandment to be obeyed.
