Lighthouse
Renewal Center ã 2003
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
The lawyer asked Jesus, “Which is the
great commandment in the law?” Jesus did not give him one, He gave him two
commandments.
Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which
is the great commandment in the law?” And He said to him, “You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
whole mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is
like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
The first is first—the second
is second. Jesus said that the second was like the first, not
the same as the first. He did not say, “Pick either
one.” He did not say, “They are equal.”
If we treat the first as first, our
prayer life will naturally and easily overflow into the second. If we begin
with the second, it is highly unlikely we will ever get back to the first.
In European seminaries it is taught
that all heresies started in Europe, except for one, which started in the United
States. Activism: The development and glorification of an overactive
thyroid (work, work, do good things, work) becomes a higher priority than
the first commandment.
“I’d rather do it myself.”
After all, spending quality time with the Lord, and getting to know Him
intimately, seems so hard and so unimportant, compared to doing good things for
my neighbor. The downside: Contrary to appearances, without the
light of Jesus the “good work” is actually immersed in darkness.
Matthew 7: 22, 23 “On that day
many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast
out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And
then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you
evildoers.’”
Did Jesus say evildoers? Yes—as
seen by the clear light of heaven, not as seen by the thick fog of
earth.second commandment will come to life within us in a fruitful and loving
way. This is how Jesus intends the two commandments to work together.
If you are not already doing so—get
to know Jesus intimately. Spend quality time with Him. Then,
watch what happens to your life and your good works!
Feb. 05