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Two Great Commandments
Two Great Commandments
Two Great Commandments
INTRODUCTION
1. In the temple during His final week prior to His crucifixion, Jesus was questioned by various
religious groups...
a. The Pharisees and Herodians sought to entangle Him with a question about paying taxes -
Mt 22:15-22
b. The Sadducees tried to trip Him on the subject of the resurrection - Mt 22:23-33
-- His answers caused people to marvel and be astonished - Mt 22:22, 33
2. The Pharisees tried once again, this time sending one of their lawyers...
a. Testing Him as to which is the great commandment in the law – Mt 22:34-36
b. Jesus replied by offering two great commandments
1) The first pertained to loving God - Mt 22:37-38
2) The second pertained to loving one's neighbor - Mt 22:39
-- Upon these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets - Mt 22:40
3. While we no longer live under the Old Law, these "Two Great Commandments" are still very
important to the Christian...
a. For they certainly have their counterpart in the New Covenant
b. And keeping the commandments of God is just as important now as it was under the Old
Covenant - cf. 1 Co 7:19; 1 Jn 5:3
[It is proper to ask, therefore, do we love God and our neighbor as we should? Do we
understand what is involved in loving God and our fellow man? Perhaps by reflecting upon
these "Two Great Commandments" we can find the answer to such questions...]
[Do we love God any less than what was expected of the Israelites? We certainly have
compelling reasons to love Him even more (e.g., the gift of His Son)! Now let's consider...]
CONCLUSION
1. How great were these two commandments...to love God, and to love
your neighbor?
a. "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
- Mt 22:40
b. "Love is the fulfilling of the Law." - Ro 13:9
-- These two commands summed up what the Old Law required of the
Israelites
2. When one truly loves God, and loves his neighbor as himself...
a. He is on the road that leads to eternal life! - cf. Lk 10:25-28
b. He is on the path that leads to the kingdom of God! - cf. Mk 12:
28-34