The Gospel According to Matthew
Matthew 22:34-46
Question of the Day:
Introduction: This whole chapter should have been looked at or studied together. Each section is connected to the other and all of them are one event. The event is challenging Jesus, or trying to trick him. Last week we saw the Pharisees and the Sadducees try. Each had a different set of beliefs and yet each tried to get the same result, trapping Jesus in an impossible question. Yet each time Jesus did nothing but amaze. So we continue...
In Desire of Ages Ellen White writes, "By the words of Christ the Sadducees were put to silence. They could not answer Him. Not a word had been spoken of which the least advantage could be taken for His condemnation. His adversaries had gained nothing but the contempt of the people.
The Pharisees, however, did not yet despair of driving Him to speak that which they could use against Him. They prevailed upon a certain learned scribe to question Jesus as to which of the ten precepts of the law was of the greatest importance."The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The law was very important to the Pharisees and if they could trap Jesus with this question then they could "prove" that he deserved to be gotten rid of. They wanted Him out of their hair. They wanted things to go back to normal and to get the people back under their control.
Are there times when we have a hard time with the teachings of Jesus? Are there times when we don't want to listen to what He has to say and create our own truth?
Jesus wasn't trapped. Did he over simplify things?
If we lived our lives with these two commands would we full fill what He has called us to do?
Then Jesus turns the tables on them and asks them a question.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
When Jesus turns around and asks them a question he asks them a question that questions their base or core understanding of who the Messiah was. As usual he knows how to get to the core. These men who prided themselves in KNOWING it all, were exposed for their misunderstanding. After His question no one dared to ask him any more questions.
What is the question that Jesus is asking you today? What question gets to the core of what you are struggling with?
Is there something in your life that needs His work in? What question has he asked that you know the answer to but you don't want to answer, or you are trying to change the answer?
Have you been trying to ask questions that trap Jesus?
These intelligent men, who knew the bible, knew prophesy, didn't see Jesus because he wasn't what they had expected. Because they didn't see Jesus they didn't know how to answer the question.
Do you see Jesus? Do you know Jesus? If you are having a hard time with the answer to the question, maybe the answer will make more sense, maybe the answer will come, once you see Jesus.
If you are struggling with anything in your life, spend sometime seeing Jesus. Read about Him, talk to Him, listen to Him. He will get to the core, He will go deep, but He will transform you, if you will allow Him to.
Who am I?
I am a girl in need of some time at the feet of Jesus. I need to see Him! To know Him! To better understand Him! I am a girl who wants to be willing for Him to get to the core, and to root out all the ick and heal me!
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