The Crux of the Matter
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Matthew 22:36
This question was asked of Jesus by one of the Pharisees. Now you must understand that this question was asked, not by someone truly seeking knowledge from a teacher, but from someone trying to trap Jesus into saying something that would warrant His death.
I shared this scripture with our church a couple of Sundays ago as we restarted our services after being out 3 months for the COVID 19 quarantine. At the time I write this, our country is under attack from all directions. A pandemic followed by riots nationwide. You watch the news and listen to a variety of people talk in regards to the riots and violence, they would have you believe that people just need to communicate with each other better. They say we need to understand each other. Let me say, communication is important for us as people. But it is not what we need.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus gives us what we are in need of. When we say things like “We just need to talk”, we are saying the solution is in us. We can fix this. It is all on us. As sinful man we are spiritually broken, and there is no instance where you will find where something that is broken being able to fix something else. We must first be “fixed” on an individual basis. The first step in “fixing” this country and it’s problems is getting our individual hearts right with God. God has to be the center of our hearts and world. We have to give our lives to God and then love Him with all that we are. But Jesus didn’t stop there. The Pharisee asked what was the greatest of the commandments. Jesus decided that He would also tell him what the second greatest command is.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets.” Matthew 22:39-40
Jesus knew the heart of the Pharisees and most all men. He knew that we typically think more highly of ourselves than we do others. He especially knew the Pharisees felt that they were better than everybody else. He knew that we needed to hear these words. If we would simply treat all people the way that we would like to be treated, it would be a much different world. Jesus was very particular about listing these two commandments. You see we as people do not have the ability to love others like ourselves without first loving God with all we are. God is love. And until you have Him in your heart, you cannot truly love. You cannot give away something that you don’t already own. I could stand on the street corner everyday and verbally give away Donald Trump’s money to everyone. However, it would not benefit you. It is not mine to give. I don’t possess it. Until you “possess” God in your heart, you cannot give love away.
What does this world need? We need God. We need His love in our hearts. And then we need to turn around and give it away. Treat others the way we want to be treated. The rule is truly golden. If you have ever read the book or watched the movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you know the kids needed a golden ticket to grant them entrance into a candy paradise. If we want this world to be more like a “paradise”, we need to practice the golden rule. But the only way to truly practice the golden rule is to have the Creator of the rule in your heart.