Friday, November 27, 2009

When the greatest comes first

Hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. Several of them, all experts in religion, decided to test him with this question: "What is the most important commandment?" He replied: " 'Love yourself with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Do church the right way, and treat every one else with suspicion. Mistrust their motives, put your faith into your religion and then divide yourselves into factions as my example unto the world.'


Scripture doesn't say that. What Scripture says is,


Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

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. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

- Matthew 22:33-50