Begin
Silence, Stillness, and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading Matthew 23:23-46
Question
about resurrection
That
same day Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Jesus. 24 They
asked, “Teacher, Moses said, If a man who doesn’t have children dies, his
brother must marry his wife and produce children for his brother. 25 Now
there were seven brothers among us. The first one married, then died. Because he
had no children he left his widow to his brother. 26 The same
thing happened with the second brother and the third, and in fact with all seven
brothers. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 At the
resurrection, which of the seven brothers will be her husband? They were all
married to her.”
Jesus
responded, “You are wrong because you don’t know either the scriptures or
God’s power. 30 At the resurrection people won’t marry nor
will they be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like angels from God. 31
As for the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God told you, I’m
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He isn’t the
God of the dead but of the living.” 33 Now when the crowd
heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
The
Great commandment
When
the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met
together. 35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him. 36 “Teacher,
what is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Question
about David’s son
Now
as the Pharisees were gathering, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do
you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”
“David’s son,” they replied.
He said, “Then how is it that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called him Lord when he said, 44 The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right side until I turn your enemies into your footstool’? 45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be David’s son?” 46 Nobody was able to answer him. And from that day forward nobody dared to ask him anything.
“David’s son,” they replied.
He said, “Then how is it that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called him Lord when he said, 44 The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right side until I turn your enemies into your footstool’? 45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be David’s son?” 46 Nobody was able to answer him. And from that day forward nobody dared to ask him anything.
Questions to Consider
Verses 36 to 40 give us what is often called the Great Commandment. Others call it the Jesus Creed. Two simple motives for living: Love God and Love others. They summarize the entirety of the Bible. In what practical way might you use this 'Jesus Creed' to direct you each day?
Prayer
“Lord, please help me to start everything I do in some way, shape, or form with your directive to first love you. May loving You be that which opens me to receive the love I need to be able to love the others that You put in my path today. Amen."
Conclude with
Silence
(2 minutes)
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