Matthew 22
Jesus gives the greatest commandment
Discussion Questions
- To what extent do you hold and implement this commandment within your own life?
- What about the second greatest commandment (v 40)?
- Is it true to suggest that Jesus demonstrated his authority not only through miracles but also through sound logic?
Share your thoughts below, or tweet about it with the #boundlessbible hashtag.
Going Deeper – from 'Words of Life'
Loving my neighbour is sometimes easy. But it is also sometimes very difficult. For it is not just the person who lives next door, it’s really any person. Those we naturally are drawn to – and those who we normally might try to avoid! Loving our neighbour is about being with someone through thick and thin. Sharing the good times together, and the not-so-good times.
It’s about being available. Being a friend to all – sharing and loving. Loving our neighbour entails admonishing one another; building one another up; carrying the burdens of others; helping, encouraging and supporting. Loving our neighbour is about practising ‘one anotherness’ in our Christian walk.
In order to love our neighbour well, we must first love ourselves. Not to be full of ourselves, but to realise more than ever that we are created in the likeness of God. Therefore we must care for ourselves, so that we can properly care for others. Be spiritually healthy in mind, body and spirit; know God’s great love for us – which then enables us to tell others of his love.
How, then, can we love our neighbour well?
Giving our time. Most of us can easily buy things for children, but what they crave most is our time. Just to be with them. And it’s no different with adults. Our neighbour, whoever that may be, just wants our time. Even if they don’t live close by, take the time to call or write to them to let them know they are loved by God – and by us. When we give time to another, to our neighbour, we’re giving a treasure.
Giving ourselves. We can be with someone yet not be ‘present’. We all know what that feels like – and it’s not a good feeling at all. When we really love and care for our neighbour we want to be there with them, totally. Not thinking of another person or situation, but focused only on them. For it’s only then that Christ can shine through us – bringing hope, life and light.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to love my neighbour well.
Beverly Ivany
'Be thou my vision' produced by Gary Rose