Sunday Reflection – Oct. 25th, 2026

Matthew 22:34-46

Love of God, Love of Neighbour

In the gospel reading for today Jesus is again being tested by the Pharisees;  over the last number of weeks they have been testing Jesus, first questioning on his authority and then last week, they put the question to him, whether it was lawful to pay tax to Caesar or not; trying to entrap him into a compromising position that they might get a charge against him.  Jesus each time is able to turn it around so that it exposes the hypocrisy of the Religious Leaders, and disciples of the Pharisees.

In today’s gospel it’s a lawyer who comes to question Jesus; who better to entrap someone with a question on the law then a legal expert.  “Which commandment in the law, he asks,  is the greatest?” (Matt 22: 36). We have to remember that in the Jewish Torah there were at least 613 laws, so depending on how Jesus answered they could very well have challenged him on it. And no doubt that was what they were hoping for.

Jesus well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures however, quotes from Deut 6:8,  the Schema, which is the prayer of every devout Jewish person, recited at least twice a day up to present day even;  in our own prayer book we know it as, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is one….”Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  (1)

“This’, he says, ‘is the greatest and first commandment.”(Matt 22: 38) Nothing was to come before the Love of God.  But then he goes on to add, and ‘the second is like on to it,”You shall Love your neighbour as yourself.” (22: 39) This too is found in the scriptures, Leviticus 19:18. ‘On these two commandments,’ Jesus says, ‘hang all the law and the prophets.”(22:40)

All other scripture, every biblical law, command, prophecy, are all rooted in these two. Love of God, and from that love of Neighbour.

Jesus neither puts one above or before the other, but ties them together. One is the outflow of the other. To Love God, is to also Love one’s neighbour.  To Love one’s neighbour is to show love for God. And while one might get technical here about what constitutes a neighbour, we know Jesus also handles that in the gospel in the story of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37) All are our neighbour, whether living next door as such, someone we meet in the streets, hear about in the news, or on the other side of the world, regardless of race, colour, creed, or nation, all are made in the image of God; and so to Love God is to Love what God loves.

The Pharisees though they were proficient in the details of the law, faithful in their practice and ritual, following the rules, it however was not done out of love, but as piety.  As a sign of Holiness. Little or no love was put into it, especially when it came to love for the weak and the vulnerable, enforcing their laws so that it created even greater burdens for them, rather then having compassion and mercy for them.

Our actions, what ever form they may take, if not done in Love, is not about Love of God, as one might claim, but about oneself, what I do, what I give,….., How good am I!  Rather then about God’s love being made manifest in the world.  To love God, is to love as God loves. And that means sometimes loving even those who are difficult, those who refuse our love, or those one might think undeserving.  Jesus too means all these when he brought the two commandments together, we can’t say we Love God and then go out and despise a neighbour.  If so, then we should ask how much do we really love God? Is it love at all?

Putting the question to the Pharisees about the Messiah Jesus asks,  “what do you think of the Messiah? Who’s son is he?”  For the Jewish people the expectant Messiah was one as the Son of David, they believed he would be another warrior King.  And they answered him “the Son of David.”  Jesus then says, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”?  (22:42-44)

Jesus wasn’t being theoretical here, but wanting them to think again about their interpretation of the Messiah from the scriptures; If David said, My Lord, then that means David saw the Messiah as one greater than himself.  They of course do not answer Jesus, not that they didn’t understand what he was saying, but likely because they did; they knew it pointed to the one in front them as the Messiah, but did not want to accept it. “And so from that time onward they asked him no other questions.” (22;46)

It calls us to think too, how we might refuse Christ, reject him,  in our own interpretation of Scripture, leaving off that which we find difficult as such, so that we make it comfortable for ourselves, or following it only as far as it permits me to do what I want, or what I want it to say.

And we can do that with hearing the commandment which Jesus gives as one, Love of God and Love of Neighbour, in a way so as to do our good deeds as such, our charity works, in a show of Love for God, without considering the Love of Neighbour part.

Jesus however is wanting it to be heard so that the action one takes, is done in the genuine Love of neighbour. Wanting for the other as for ourselves.

As a quote attributed to Mother Theresa reads, “I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like,’ she says, ‘but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask how many good things have you done in your life? rather, he will ask how much love did you put into what you did?”

And so I pray that as we reflect on the scriptures this week you will think about how it is that you show love for God and Love for neighbour, in the action you take toward another, and in the world. Is it done with genuine Love, a giving heart, showing compassion, mercy, wanting justice and peace for the other as you would for yourself;  and if not, ask, why not? For we know we can all do better when it comes to our Love for God, and Love of Neighbour. 

So I pray too this week, you will reach out and show a little Love in action, help another in need, show some kindness to brighten another’s day, offer to lift another’s load in a genuine show of love, helping make for a more loving, peaceful and just world.

I Hope you have a blessed week, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read and reflect on the scriptures; and drop a comment or like below and let me know what you think…

Take care, God Bless,

Hannah+

1. Book of Alternative Services, Anglican Church of Canada, Copyright © 1985, Anglican Book Centre; BAS. pg. 53.