God's Priorities

Introduction

Greatness is a word reserved for the extraordinary. We use it to describe athletes, statesmen, businesses, and even favorite foods. It is fundamentally a word of comparison, suggesting that something or someone else is less. So it should come as no surprise that Jesus was asked to define greatness when it comes to God’s law.

In Matthew 22, we encounter a series of opposition attempts against Jesus. In verses 15–22, the Herodians—supporters of the Roman government—try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes. To answer “don’t pay” would make him an insurrectionist; to answer “pay” would set him against the people. Jesus’ answer reveals a third position: one that acknowledges government’s right to exist while recognizing that God’s ways are not hindered through government.

In verses 23–33, the Sadducees attempt to trap Jesus with a question about the resurrection. Since this group did not believe in an afterlife, their question is intended to present an impossibility for those who do. Jesus, however, is not confused by their motives or the question itself. His answer reveals that not only does an afterlife exist but that it exists currently.

Then we turn to our text. The Pharisees want to take a shot at Jesus’ authority and send an expert to debate him. Mark’s account suggests the expert has better motivation than previous questioners. The question is: “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” This is not a new question. The Pharisees were renowned for knowing the Law frontwards and backwards. The rabbis had identified 613 commandments, just as there are 613 Hebrew letters in the Ten Commandments. They divided these into 248 affirmative and 365 negative commands, and determined that some were not as important as others. No doubt they argued and debated among themselves about which commandments were greatest.

Even Jesus understood there were differences in terms of the priorities of the Law. In Matthew 5:19, he refers to the “least of the commandments,” and in Matthew 23:23, he rebukes these same Pharisees for ignoring the more important aspects of the law. All of what God said was important, but Jesus recognized that there was a greatest law. What Jesus said is the point of our study today. The greatest commands—love God and love others—are enough for us to study for a lifetime. Let’s be challenged today.

Love

Jesus responds with a quote from the most cherished part of the Law, from Deuteronomy 6. All Jews were taught this text from infancy and recited it daily. It holds so much meaning, similar to our John 3:16. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Love God with all you have. Do not shrink back from God. When presented with choices, God is first. Give God your intellect, your emotions, your very being.

The second command is like it. This phrase “like it” suggests that Jesus did not create more than a hair’s breadth between the two. In other words, loving God is first, but in a photo finish, the second command is just as vital. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Do not shrink back from your neighbor. As you give God all of who you are, share that with another. Some have seen in this second command a third injunction to love self, but this is not Jesus’ point. The point is very similar to what Paul makes in Ephesians 5:28–29 when he writes, “Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church.” In other words, treat your neighbor in the same way that you treat yourself.

To understand this text requires that we understand the word “love”—it is the word “agape” and carries the idea of self-sacrifice. While the word is not devoid of emotion, it is not driven by emotions. When used in relationship to God, it mimics his love. We know how to love because God loved us first and demonstrated that love. We give our all to God because God gave all for us. When used in connection to others, love is motivated by the desire to treat them as we would treat ourselves. It is not motivated by how I feel about someone—whether we like or dislike them—but by benevolent sacrifice. It is selfless. Love is giving without expecting anything in return.

Application

This is how God loves. He loved us without expecting anything in return. Yes, he wants a response. He wants us to come to him. And he knew that some would respond. But not all do. His love is not only for those who respond to him. All get to enjoy his sunshine and rain whether they express thanks or not. When we love God, it is to give our all not expecting anything in return. To love in order to get heaven is to cheapen the love. To love in order to be blessed is to be selfish. We love God with all that we have because we want to love like God.

And what about others? To love another is to love without expectation. This is hard. It means that our neighbors’ interests must be as dear to us as our own. The second commandment means to take care of someone else in the same way you would take care of yourself. We are all concerned with our comfort and meeting our own needs, but are we as concerned with the comforts and needs of others? When you are hungry, you feed yourself, but when someone else is hungry, do you take care of them with the same concern? When you are uncomfortable, you find comfort. Do you have the same feeling for someone else who is in need of comfort? If someone is grieving, comfort them. If someone is lonely, visit them. If someone is sick or hurt, offer to take them to the doctor, pick up a prescription, or take them food. This is an act of the will, not an act of emotions.

Our Vision Statement contains the following words: “Our vision is that we are a place where our lives more closely resemble Jesus’ ministry as he walked, talked, and touched those who were hurting, rejected, and ignored. Our vision is that we are the place that champions the cause of those that have little power in this world.” If we are to champion the cause of those who have little power in this world, this means to love without expecting anything in return. We give knowing that it cannot be repaid. We care for others the way we care for ourselves. This kind of love is energizing. It is attractive. It is transformational for us and for those we love. This kind of love is often taken advantage of and despised. Love always pays a price. Love always costs something. Love is expensive. When you love, benefits accrue to another’s account. Love is for you, not for me. Love gives; it doesn’t grab.

It is the kind of love that reaches out. Have you experienced this kind of love from God? We love others when God’s love has filled us up. When we recognize the way God has loved us, then we love others in the same way.

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