March 24, 2016
ON POINT, ON MISSION
Matthew 22:23–46
Laura Lee Puebla
Central Truth
When we have an accurate understanding of God and what He has done for us, we can respond with eagerness and passion that reflects God’s work in us and stirs up others’ affections for God.
Key Verse | Matthew 22:37–39
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)
Matthew 22:23–46
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
The Great Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Whose Son Is the Christ?
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
44
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?
45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 22:23–46
I believe the two most important things we can examine in our lives are our relationship with the Lord and how it affects how we relate to others around us (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Eight years ago, I had an awesome opportunity to evaluate my own relationship with the Lord. My life and marriage were a disaster with no hope until someone interrupted my downward spiral and flipped my world upside down by asking me these questions:
Are you in His Word enough that it has become rooted in your heart and is your sole guide to how you live your life?
Are you in regular communication with God (prayer), and do you understand that He loves you and is ultimately in control?
Are you surrounding yourself with other Christ-followers who are spurring you on in your walk with Christ?
My answer to all of these questions was an eye-opening “no.” I’m grateful someone stepped toward the chaos in my life to lovingly speak truth and point me to THE solution: Christ.
How we each answer the questions above will indicate how well we will in turn love our neighbor. Remember, it is an awesome privilege to be able to love our neighbor. Be cautious! Preoccupation with self can rob us of the joy that comes from being on mission for Jesus (1 John 4:7-8).
Here are some practical love tips straight from God that can help keep us grounded in truth and keep our focus on point and on mission:
Persuade others to pursue Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11, NLT).
Encourage and motivate others toward a purpose-filled life (Hebrews 10:24).
Consider others as more important than yourself (Philippians 2:3-4).
Today, I encourage us to continue (or start) being about loving God with all that we are and extending our hands to love others. Speak the truth in love and be about the Father’s satisfying business. I’m thankful He is NOT done with us yet. Today is another day for us to be even more diligent in doing the work He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
Discussion Questions
1. Is everything you do motivated by God’s love? (1 John 4:11)
2. What is one distraction that is keeping you from loving God and others, and what can you do today to start changing that?
3. Is your own personal relationship with God going to attract others to the Savior or be a stumbling block to them?
4. Have you decided to jump ALL IN with Jesus? If not, I urge you to get in on HIS goodness today. It’s amazing! (Romans 10:9, Romans 8:28)