We read in Matthew 22:34-40, “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. {35} One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: {36} ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?’ {37} Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ {38} This is the first and greatest commandment. {39} And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ {40} All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”
According to “Strong’s Dictionary” the Greek word used in verses 36 and 40 for the word translated, “law” means, “generally regulation, specifically of Moses volume, or figuratively principle.” The expert in the law was likely including not only what we know as the Ten Commandments, but also all the other directives and their interpretations suggested through the centuries surrounding what was agreed to as the “law and the prophets.”
Jesus response was short and straight forward distilling everything down to two things, loving the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and loving your neighbour as yourself.
For those who understand the meaning of the statement, “What you think and what you believe and what you say and the intentions of your heart matter, because it impacts you actions which determine the outcomes in your life,” then the statement of Jesus truly becomes all encompassing. We are responsible to put love for God first. Notice the word, “all” used three times. The Greek word translated, “all” means complete, altogether, throughout, whole.” We know the level of our commitment to love based upon what it takes to displace it. What are you willing to give up to make sure your love for God holds true?
Also, how committed are you to making sure you are the best you possible, so that you have the resources to properly love yourself, so you can then love others in a way which pleases God.
Success principles and training are important and valuable, but if you place them ahead of God you have lost the benefit of the power and authority provided to those who put God first and love Him wholeheartedly.
Our commitment to God and His Kingdom becomes visible for everyone to see in our actions, revealing our thoughts, beliefs, words and heart intentions.
What do others see in you? Are you congruent with what Jesus said in response to the question of the expert in the law? Your response is really important as it will point to your life’s reality.