Matthew 22:23-40 23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”
29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[a]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. 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.’[b] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Dean Honnette
Hope Center Covenant Church
Observation: In this passage, Lord Jesus, You are making it clear to me that it is foolish to challenge or doubt Your Word or Your teachings. I see that You are powerful and loving beyond my comprehension.
Action: Each day this week, I am going to do one thing to show love to one of my neighbors.
Obeservation: One can…I can think I know the scriptures…but not really know them because I miss the call to love as Jesus, theHeart of the Word.
Action: As I read iLent messages, read the Word I will look beyond ink on paper to see Jesus and be reminded of His love for me and the call to loving action to those around me and on my daily path.
I hear Jesus reminding me of the profound simplicity of following Him. Life is not found in the manipulations of scripture, but in LOVE. Leaning into Him, learning from Him, lifting others toward Him. Not easy, but simple.
I’m reminded that I must be careful not to read into Scripture what I think is reasonable, but rather seek to discern what God is saying. I need to rely totally upon His Holy Spirit, the Author and Revealer of Scripture.
Today I will listen for God’s Word in god’s Word.
Chuck, I love it. His word in His word.
I’m reading this passage and finding those two commandments are both, not about do’s or don’ts, but about posture and character. Both of which are shaped by having God’s word IN you, and allowing yourself to be shaped by repentance and belief.
My prayer today is one of gratitude for God’s great grace, which has kept me safe and warm, even in times when I’m less than following these greatest of commandments.
Observation: Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t loving, but letting yourself be loved. I was in a relationship once where because of past experience the other person wouldn’t let me love her, alternating between clinging and pushing away instead. God wants me to love Him, but more than that He wants me to let Him love me.
Action: Let Him love me, let others love me, be patient with those I’m trying to share His love with. Don’t be afraid.
Jesus what its me are Your words, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ” I hear You saying to me, that many of the questions, many of the things that stump and stalemate me can be curb two things knowledge of Your word and the power of God.
Today as I look at my life through the lens of God as Father and King, I will submit my concerns to Your heart for my good as Your son, and lean into Your power for my hopes and concerns.
Through Jesus’ correction of the Sadducees He reminds me that His power and written word go hand in hand. Through them both we come to know the living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Word without power and power without word is incomplete.
The call to action for me today is prayer.
I am so reminded that there is always such greater depth to God’s word. To approach it daily with the openness and awareness to step back and catch the bigger perspective Jesus may have for me.
Observation:
God, you are showing me that there is a trap everywhere, someone trying to trick you, trip you up, and discredit you, and in the case of us (me) as mere human, shake our (my) beliefs. … Why would the Sadducces compose this complicated question about what happens after resurrection when they don’t believe in it??? And what were the Pharisees up to with their question? Were they sincere? It is such a good question; or is it, that it was such a good answer? So I feel in this regard you are saying never wander far from the basic. Love God with your whole being and love others as you love yourself.
Action: Jesus, I feel relief at your answer to the Pharisees. I feel a need to stick close to the basics at the moment. And that means love you … and love myself so that I can love others like you love me and not in a Sadducces or Pharisees manner.
I am hearing 2 things within todays reading:
1. Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
{Without knowing the scriptures we can be mislead in our thinking which can cause misdirection in our walk}
2.Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
{ That also in remembering the first commandment as a guide in the words ‘Heart, Soul & Mind’ is a directive must; to be sure that these things above are clear and without impurities(i.e.. drugs, vengefulness, hate, people pleasing oppose to Pleasing the Father and so on) that can cloud judgment & perspective}
My action is in my commitment to re-establishing the habit of setting time for My Father& Reading His word
(now specifically: iLent& the 21 day challenge with my daughter). Without this as a priority and habit I cannot be sure that my heart, soul & mind are ALL loving God. If I cant even make time for Him in the life that Only He has blessed me with then where are my priorities REALLY& what am I modeling to my kids?
Father, You have given me Identity in you and I need to nurture that with your word to really grow into the purpose you have set aside for me. The worlds view of ‘good enough’ can be intoxicating. Help me not settle for ‘good enough’ if that doesn’t include my UP time with you, my IN commitment with my family, or my OUT relationship with my community. Show me how to balance my life so I am clearly Loving you with ALL of me; to trust my direction is toward you.
I need to practice being specific &brief in communication:
Clear, Concise & Connected… 🙂
Your comments are always so insightful, and exactly as long as they need to be. Thank you for the reminder that we must model our love of The Lord to our kids, and make time in our distracted and busy schedules to spend time in His word.
OBSERVATION: Father you are showing me that to ‘know Your Word’ I need to surrender myself to what You say is important – loving You & loving my neighbor.
When I surrender I will then live in your power.
ACTION: I will surrender to Your word & power today and love my neighbor (next door) by engaging in an intentional & encouraging conversation with them.
I will look for Your grace in their life and pray with them as You lead.
Observation: It is easy to get caught up in semantics, rules and technicalities and loose sight of what God is doing.
This week I’m going to set aside my “must dos” and focus on being intentional in my actions. I’m going to allow my motivations to come from a place of love and not duty.