“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)
None of us likes to be upstaged by anyone. It makes us feel dumb, especially if others are watching. No one wants to be embarrassed. The Pharisees weren’t going to be stomped on by some “fly by night” rabbi named Jesus. They were the real scholars; they had been to the best schools, studied under the best professors, and graduated at the top of their class. The Pharisees had the question they believed would stop Jesus in his tracks: “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” They thought, “This will trick him, and then people will know that he isn’t as smart as he thinks he is.” The Pharisees based their lives on acquiring knowledge to boost their egos and reputations. Jesus used His knowledge to bring sinners to the Father’s love. The most important answer to the question is quite simple: love God and love others. The Pharisees weren’t loving God for God’s sake, but for their sake. They loved God with their minds, but refused to love people God’s way. How would you answer the question if you were asked? Are you loving God with all of your passion, intelligence, and strength? It requires a childlike faith in the One who first loved us. Are you loving others Jesus’ way? It requires experiencing the abundant love that Jesus has lavished on us. It’s a question worth answering!
One-Word Answers
I have been with you a long time now. Do you still not know me? —John 14:9
Here’s a riddle for you. What is greater than God and more evil than Satan? The poor have it, and the rich need it. That one stumped me, even though it has an obvious one-word answer: “Nothing. · What is greater than God? Nothing. · What is more evil than Satan? Nothing. · The poor have it: Nothing. · The rich need it: Nothing. Sometimes, in the messiness—and busy-ness—of life, we get distracted and lose sight of the obvious. It happened to Philip (Jn 14: 8–10). The following isn’t exactly a riddle—nor is the answer obscure. Who is one with God and more powerful than Satan? The poor can have him, and the rich need him. Easy one-word answer: Jesus.
The solution to life’s perplexities and problems is found in one word: Jesus