"Testing, testing. One, two, three, testing"
Ever helped with a sound check?
Jesus endured people's "sound checks" - people trying to see if He was doctrinally "sound". In truth, they assumed He was unsound & wanted to trip Him up, expose Him.
Two examples from Matthew 22:
"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words." (vs. 15)
"That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question." (vs. 23)
Questions asked with biases & assumed answers are lies. We pretend to seek truth while we really want to make a statement or embarrass the one we ask.
All-wise Jesus can use evil questions to teach. After enduring & exposing two other phony truth-seekers, Jesus teaches us the greatest commandments in response to another foolish & futile entrapping enquirer.
"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." (Matt. 22:34-40 - NIV)
Quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 & Leviticus 19:18, Jesus answered [in a way most unexpected]. He often does. Making us even more accountable.
God's Greatest Commandment, His Top Priority:
Love Him fully, with all you are and all youse gots.
Commandment #2: Love others,
just like you already fiercely love yourself.
Do this & you will fulfill all the Law. Love for God & others is the heart, the essence of the Law.
Be done with your evasive questions.
Repent of convenient confusions.
God is abundantly clear in His expectations of us:
Love Him
Love others
Aren't we glad we asked?
Jesus endured people's "sound checks" - people trying to see if He was doctrinally "sound". In truth, they assumed He was unsound & wanted to trip Him up, expose Him.
Two examples from Matthew 22:
"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words." (vs. 15)
"That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question." (vs. 23)
Questions asked with biases & assumed answers are lies. We pretend to seek truth while we really want to make a statement or embarrass the one we ask.
All-wise Jesus can use evil questions to teach. After enduring & exposing two other phony truth-seekers, Jesus teaches us the greatest commandments in response to another foolish & futile entrapping enquirer.
"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." (Matt. 22:34-40 - NIV)
Quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 & Leviticus 19:18, Jesus answered [in a way most unexpected]. He often does. Making us even more accountable.
God's Greatest Commandment, His Top Priority:
Love Him fully, with all you are and all youse gots.
Commandment #2: Love others,
just like you already fiercely love yourself.
Do this & you will fulfill all the Law. Love for God & others is the heart, the essence of the Law.
Be done with your evasive questions.
Repent of convenient confusions.
God is abundantly clear in His expectations of us:
Love Him
Love others
Aren't we glad we asked?
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