Purpose of this lesson: to acknowledge that God has priorities.
By the time of Jesus' life, the Jewish scribes declared that the law (the Torah) contained 613 commandments of which 248 were positive and 365 were negative. A "hot button" topic of discussion among the Jewish people was, "Which commandment is the most important commandment from God?"
The Jewish people in Jesus' day (and before) were obsessed with determining God's most important commandment. When people become obsessed with commands, they can (1) ignore the meaning of God's instructions, and (2) deceive themselves into believing that righteousness (God's concept of) and goodness (God's concept of) are human achievements rather than divine gifts.
The last week of Jesus' life on earth illustrates what a "hot, controversial" topic this question was among the Jewish people. After Jesus raised Lazarus from death, Jesus' popularity with the Jewish people was rapidly rising. The Jewish leaders were desperate to separate Jesus from his popular acceptance (see John 11:47-53).
For many Christians, understanding "what God wants us to do" is more important spiritually than trying to determine "which commandment is most important." Jesus' last week of human life illustrates how important it was to Jewish people at that time to know which command was the most important command.
A part of their plan was to reduce Jesus' popularity. To do this, religious leaders selected controversial topics to use to question Jesus. These topics were calculated to result in discussions that would disillusion Jesus' following. The topics were to cause Jesus to be self incriminating. The Pharisees asked, "Is it correct to pay taxes to the Roman ruler?" (See Matthew 22:15-22.) Jesus responded, "Give to the Roman ruler what is his, and to God what is His." The Sadducees, who did not believe in an afterlife, questioned Jesus about the validity of resurrection. (See Matthew 22:23-33.) Jesus proved from scripture they accepted that they misunderstood scripture. Then a lawyer (an expert in Jewish law or Torah law--religious law) asked him what was the most important commandment God gave.
If the Jewish leaders could reduce Jesus' popularity with the common people, they would be in position to deal with Jesus in any way they wished. However, if they could not reduce Jesus' popularity they assumed significant risk in alienating their followers by attacking Jesus.
Note different type of leaders sought to compromise Jesus' views and put Jesus at odds with those who followed him.
Please note this: in controversial issues that were calculated to separate Jesus from his popularity was the question about the most important command. That question (about the most important command) ranked in controversial nature with paying the hated Roman tax and existence in the afterlife.
Emphasize that the question about the greatest command could destroy Jesus' popularity. It ranked with dreaded Roman taxes and the Jewish controversy about the afterlife (for the Sadducees' position on the afterlife, see Acts 23:6-8).
Some Jews were convinced that paying taxes to the Roman government was an act of treason against God because God only had the right to rule over Palestine. This should give people an indication of how controversial the question of the greatest command was to the Jewish people then.
In all three questions, Jesus answered. Regarding God's greatest commandment, Jesus said #1 was to love God with your entire being (see Deuteronomy 6:4, 5) and #2 was loving your neighbor as yourself (see Leviticus 19:17, 18). He said everything instructed in the Law and the writings of the Prophets occurred if these two things were true.
Jesus acknowledged there was a #1 and #2. In our terminology, Jesus said there is a #1 and #2, and all of God's other instructions in scripture depend on #1 and #2.
Jesus did not say the question about the greatest command was ridiculous. His answer recognized some instructions from God were superior to others. There was a number one and a number two. One and two were the foundation for all the rest of the commands. One would not rebel against God in other instructions if he or she loved God with his or her whole being and loved people. A proper attitude toward God and people would produce a life that was compliant to God's instructions.
Some commandments were foundational to other commandments. All commandments depended on a person's attitude toward God and attitude toward people. Some commandments were more fundamental to God's purposes than others.
The first recorded expression of God's laws is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Jesus' emphasis reflects the general emphasis of those commands. The first emphasis (the first four commands) focus on honoring God. The second emphasis (the last six commands) focus on honoring people. Everything (all the commands) flow from loving God and loving people.
In all of God's instructions from the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) forward, God has consistently stressed the same two things: (1) He must be honored and loved above all else; (2) people must be loved and respected.
In Matthew 5 (the first chapter of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount), Jesus focused on the meaning of loving people. By this time in Jewish history it was understood in "faithful" Jewish society that there was one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and that any semblance of idolatry was "opening the door" to alienation from Him. However, people could be exploited and abused if it was done "in the right way." Jesus emphasized that they did not understand God's intent.
Jesus dealt with the spiritual issue confronting his audience. They knew God was to be reverenced and served above all. They did not understand that exploiting people was an offense against God. They would not dare have an idol, but they would justify their offenses against people.
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus warned that they must not confuse the practice of accepted religious expressions with honoring God if they used those expressions to advance their personal reputations. There is a difference between honoring God in what you do and seeking religious praise for yourself. He closed his sermon by contrasting hearing with doing and taking action in your own life.
Jesus warned against doing common religious deeds (benevolence, praying, fastening) for (1) personal praise, (2) personal recognition, and (3) personal advancement instead of honoring God. The personal objective and personal motive involved in doing the deed was even more important than the act performed.
Much later (after Jesus' crucifixion), the Christian Paul wrote: Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8-10).
Paul did not repudiate the focus of the law (loving God and loving people). He stressed the proper motive behind the act. Love for people will result in the proper treatment of people (not the use and abuse of people).
There is no disconnect between God's early emphasis to the nation of Israel and His emphasis to Christians in every nation. First, God is to be honored as the Creator God who brought us into being physically and spiritually. He alone is the living God. He is not to be considered an idol or to be considered in competition with anything else people regard to be a deity. Second, people are to be loved. Love is expressed by # 1 doing what is in their best interest and # 2 treating them as you wish to be treated.
The focus in yielding to God's has never changed. Whether speaking of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) or the royal law of liberty (James 1:25), the focus is the same--honoring God and respecting people by focusing on motives for personal behavior.
The fact that God is our God will be reflected in how we live and the purpose of our lives. We will not restrict God to a geographical place, one particular day, and a set of traditional acts and forms. It is in our behavior that our dependence on God is evident. Surely, we will worship and glorify God. However, it is in our behavior that it is evident that we love God, and we love people.
God is not restricted in the lives of His followers. There are no "off limits" areas. Dependence on God is reflected in motive and behavior.
For Thought and Discussion
Which commandment is the most important?
In seeking to separate Jesus from his popularity, the Jewish leaders asked Jesus controversial questions. One of those questions was, "Which is the most important commandment?"
Yes, because some are foundational and others are not. Even Jesus acknowledged #1 and #2.
It will produce a life that complies with God's instructions.
It is the Ten Commandments.
He emphasized the meaning of loving people.
He warned against using accepted religious practices (that were supposed to honor God) to advance personal reputations.
The proper motive of love would fulfill the laws requirements in the proper treatment of people.
In all emphasis, God is to be honored above all things, and people are to be loved.
It is expressed by (1) doing that which is in their best interests and (2) treating them like one wishes to be treated.
We express love through our behavior.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 1