The First and Greatest Commandment

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving Neighbors,
Serving God

Matthew 22:34-40 The Message

The Most Important Command

^34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

^37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

For Reflection
Love God and you will abide in God.  Love yourself, a child of God, and you will love others.  All other commandments are to be tempered by this love.

Pray
Pray and you will find the love of God.  Pray and you will find yourself in the love of God.  Pray and your actions will show your love of God.