How Do We Love God?

 N.T.#256  "How Do We Love God?"

March 4, 2024

Matthew 22-Part 7

LET IT GLOW 

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians got no where debating Jesus. So the top dog (lawyer) started in asking Jesus questions. (verse 35)

Lawyer is an expert in the Mosaic Law. 

A Greek speaking lawyer was equivalent to a Doctorate of Theology today. By this time, there were over 600 Jewish laws the Pharisees had. A lawyer was usually a scribe, who spent their life meticulously copying the Hebrew Scriptures in order to preserve it or prevent corruption. They were the best trained, most brilliant scholar they could be. This ivory-tower scholar was no match for the Son of God, the Creator of all things. Yet, this lawyer's question was asked to tempt Him.

Tempting refers to entice; examine; prove; try.

Question: Which is the great commandment in the law? (verse 36)

Great means beloved; solitary.

Which single one was the most important of the laws? God's entire law can be reduced to this one of two found in verse 37.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.(verse 37)

LET IT GROW

Let's take a closer look at these key words:

• Love means deliberate assessment of the will.
• Heart refers to the thoughts or feelings.
• Soul is that which is the rational and immortal soul; life; breath; spirit.
• Mind is the deep thought; understanding.

How are we to love the Lord our God? With all our thoughts, feelings, soul, and understanding mind. God is the source of all we need, so we believers are to allow Him to work in us according to His will and His good pleasure. Have you turned over your will to God?

What about our thoughts or feelings? Does God control them? How is our understanding and mind? Is our focus loving and praising Jesus, or has the world moved in and occupied our mind most of the times?

God wants a relationship with you. He wants you to love Him, to passionately and righteously pursue His glory. Loving God with some of our heart, soul, and mind isn't all. However, don't we want all of God? Love for God is consistently expressed when we obey His commands. (John 14:5, 1 John 5:3)

LET IT GO

Father, we owe You our all in all

Worthy of praise, love, and glory are You.

Help us love you with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind.

Please forgive us when we do not.