Ordinary Time Week 20

Psalm: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 or Psalm 1 

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 or Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46 

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

What is the greatest commandment? If you were a Pharisee or Sadducee in 1^st century Palestine, this is the type of question which might preoccupy your time? Rabbis have calculated that there are 613 commandments for a Jew to follow. Just thinking of that number makes it seem impossible to remember, let alone follow them all. So it is natural to wonder what commandment is the greatest, which can then help interpret all the others. The question itself is not usual and was something rabbis discussed. But what is unique about this encounter from perhaps other discussions amongst the rabbis was this question was meant to “test” Jesus. The word used in Greek is “peirazo” and can also mean to tempt, or entice one to sin. This is the same word used by Matthew to describe the devil coming to tempt Jesus in the Wilderness.

Throughout the last 2 chapters in Matthew the Pharisees and Sadducees have been coming to Jesus and testing him with questions of varying degrees of legitimacy. The question today is actually a valid question. Earlier in the chapter the Sadducees asked the rather hyperbolic question; who would be married to a woman in the resurrection if she married all 7 brothers in succession after they keep dying? This is a rather ridiculous notion, to which Jesus challenges the legitimacy of the question in his response. Regardless of the questions they throw at Jesus however, he is able to answer them and challenge their beliefs in the process. Today is no different. Jesus actually gives them a straightforward answer, which seems unusual for him. Jesus sums up all the law and the prophets in 2 commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The way to sum-up all 613 commandments in the law and all that the prophets taught is to love God and others. This harkens back to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that he has come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Love is the fulfillment of the Law.

I don’t know how radical Jesus’ answer was. It makes me wonder why no one had ever thought of this before because it seems so obvious now that Jesus has said it. Jesus first draws from the most important section/prayer from the Pentateuch called the Shema. Jews still pray the Shema twice a day, which comes from Deut. 6:4. Jesus quotes from Deut. 6:5. But his second commandment comes from Lev. 19:18 a rather obscure verse under a section titled, “Sundry Laws” in my NASB bible. It reads in full, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” So, upon these 2 laws, which are perhaps the most open-ended of the laws-to just love- hang all the others.

Whether Jesus’ answer stumped the Pharisees the text doesn’t say. But while they are thinking of a rebuttal, Jesus asks a question of his own about whose son the Christ/Messiah is? They say David, but Jesus wonders how then David can call him Lord if the Messiah is his son. To this they have no answer and from that time onward no one dared ask him another question. It might be interesting to note that at Jesus’ trial, they brought false witness before him and untrue accusations. Perhaps they had learned their lesson; honest questions in public would only lead to Jesus embarrassing them.

When Jesus gives the Pharisees, and us as well, a statement about the greatest command we should pay attention. The 2 greatest commandments might not only be relevant to the Pharisees, but to us today. More than following a list of dos and don’ts, Jesus wants us to live in relationships based on love. Love gets messy, it requires context and individualization. There is not a one-size-fits all approach. But the overriding feature of our lives and our relationships to love god and love others, is the same.

Of course we know this and we are probably familiar with these verses from Matthew. The issue is not knowledge; it is putting it into practice. Let these words from Matthew be a reminder to us this week to love God and others. This means our co-workers, our family, our neighbors, the cashier at the grocery store, everyone. This week, through the help of the Holy Spirit, let us seek to grow in our love of God and through that relationship our love of others.

Grace and Peace.