WATCHWORD:
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Meditation:
Which is it? Ten or Two?
I have a dear friend who is well-schooled in the Bible. You give him a passage, old or new testament it makes no difference, and he will give you the attribution; book, chapter and verse. At dinner gatherings, there were times when he quizzed us on the Ten Commandments, because he knows them by heart. He would ask: What is the seventh commandment? Someone of our group would guess, and he would correct their wrong answer. He is really quite amazing, just a tad overbearing at times with his knowledge.
I’ve got a slightly different take on the Ten Commandments. Oh, I know the story of God handing them down to Moses and I believe that. I also believe that God is amazing and often times we underestimate him. He brought forth the Ten Commandments at a time when the Israelites desperately needed guidance. So, each of those ten commands spoke to an issue that God felt needed to be addressed. The Israelites needed clear and simple directions, i.e. “Thou shall…” and “Thou shalt not…” Straight to the point.
So, here comes God in human form and He is asked by Pharisees, teachers of the law, to grade the Commandments that God had given to Moses. “If you’re such a great teacher you should know this. Which is the greatest Commandment?” they want to know.
Well, God has been here before and He has, at times, been fed up with these back-sliding sinners, who can’t practice basic Holy Law. He is especially upset with teachers of the law, with evil in their hearts. So, He confounds them by saying there isn’t one, greatest Commandment, there are two!
“Two!” they reply. “Yes, two,” Jesus answers, saying: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two Commandments.”
Jesus continued teaching them. Of the first four Commandments, all are represented under “Love the Lord your God…” See for yourself, He tells them; you shall have no other Gods before me, you shall not worship false Gods, never take the Lord’s name in vain, and you shall keep the Sabbath day Holy. All are elements of loving God. (Exodus 20:1-11) Four Commandments in one!
The Pharisees could not argue with that logic. But, what about the remaining six Commandments? What does loving my neighbor have anything to do with those, they asked?
And Jesus answers: You are to love others, your neighbors, with the same love that you have for yourself. You would not murder someone you loved. You would not cheat, or steal from, or lie to someone you really loved. And to covet things that belongs to others is the same as stealing. So, there you have it, the remaining Commandments.
But Jesus did not stop there. He pointed out that Moses commanded them to follow justice and justice alone (Deuteronomy 16:20). And to love your neighbors means justice for all. The matter of not giving false testimony (Exodus 20:16) against your neighbor insurers impartial judgment for everyone. When justice is denied, love for your neighbor is denied.
The Pharisees had no retort! Amen.
Praying the Commandments:
Lord God heavenly Father, you have commanded us to have no other gods. Keep us faithful to you alone, dethrone the idols in our life, and give us the grace to fear/honour, love and trust you above all things. Stop us from using it in unholy ways. Let the name that you put on us in baptism keep us holy, and may we always trust in the holy name of Jesus and use his name in prayer and praise.
This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Almighty God and Father, you created six days in which to work and the seventh you made a day of rest. Grant that we may use the Lord’s day for rest and hearing your word.
Gracious Father in heaven, in your goodness you have given us fathers and mothers whom you want us to honour. Grant that by the help of your Spirit all Christian parents may bring their children up to fear/honour and love you, and that children may not provoke their parents to anger but love, respect, and obey them. You have created the world and you give life to all people. Grant that by your grace all may respect the sanctity of life, including the life of the unborn. Let us do nothing to hurt or harm our neighbour in any way, but rather to be of help, especially in times of need.
Almighty God, you are the giver and preserver of all good things. Help us to value honest work as your gift and the means by which you bless our country. Give us joy as we serve others with unselfish hearts. Give work to the unemployed and help them to use their extra time constructively and for the good of their communities.
Lord God our heavenly Father, in Jesus Christ you have shown yourself to be for us and not against us. Help us to be loyal to our neighbours and do nothing to damage their reputation. Show us the log in our own eye when we find a speck in their eye. Make us more ready to forgive than to judge, and always view the actions of others in the most favourable light.
Gracious God and Father, you are the owner and giver of all things. Enable us to be good stewards of all your gifts, content with what you have given us, and eager to advance the cause of others even if it is to our disadvantage. Give us a generous heart and joy in serving our neighbour.
We offer these prayers in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
