The Most Important Commandment
After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?”
Jesus answered:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.Matthew 22:34-40 (Contemporary English Version)
First question – how did Jesus make the Sadducees look foolish? Looking at the previous story, Jesus appears to have outclassed these guys in a debate over life in the future world. He’s made it clear that they’re using categories that are too small to deal with life after death.
Second question – what are the categories from which this ‘Pharisee’ is operating? It would seem his vision of human life is derived from interpretation of the written codes and guidelines of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Jesus here opens up the perameters by which people can develop their expression of God-honouring humanity. By giving us the big picture of loving God and loving one another he gives us room for cultural interpretation.
I spent part of yesterday with a colleague who was reflecting on the distinction between discipleship and socialisation. Much of what we think is obedience to God is in fact conformity to the codes of politeness we’ve inherited from our families and churches. Take for example our codes on swearing, drinking, smoking, tattoos and dress code. Can you have a swearing, drinking, smoking, tattooed, roughly dressed person who loves God and loves others as him/herself? Sure thing.