No Sick Days: A 16-Week Devotional

Day 1

"Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let's break this down!

Context: Jesus got done silencing the Sadducees concerning the resurrection from the dead. They were trying to accuse Him of blasphemy, so they were throwing tests at Him to see what He would say to the questions they asked. One of the Pharisees asked Him what the greatest commandment was, to which Jesus responded by quoting from Deuteronomy 6. He explained that loving God and loving others is the greatest commandment.

Who were the Pharisees and Sadducees?: The Pharisees and Sadducees were the most prominent influencers during Jesus time. They clung heavily to the teachings of the Old Testament and bashed anyone who didn't abide by them. They were the ones who had the most rivalry with Jesus and would do anything to keep their position, even if it meant falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.

How do we live out Matthew 22:37-40?

Think about someone who has done wrong to you. How did you respond when they hurt you? Reread the Scripture again. Were you living in accordance with the greatest commandment? If not, ask the Holy Spirit to help you truly love God and others.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I admit that I don't always love others the way You ask me to. Please forgive me for the times I was unkind to people who have treated me unfairly. Give me the strength to follow the greatest commandment. In Jesus name, amen.