If Only . . .
Most of the leaders that Jesus encountered wanted to argue. When Jesus got around them, the scene was like a press conference: “Hey, what do you think about this? Why do you do that? Why do your disciples do this?”
In Matthew 12:10, the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” After quoting the question, Matthew tells us why they asked the question:
. . . so that they might accuse Him.
Matthew 12:10
Hmmm. “So that they might accuse Him.” That sounds like a press conference, too.
One day a lawyer asked Jesus a question and Matthew again tells us why: the lawyer was testing Jesus. Ever seen a reporter ask a question to test someone? Me, too.
The lawyer’s question was this: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
I believe that Jesus’ answer is key to the unrest we see around us, the key for everyone on every side of every issue. If we teach His answer to our children, they will be part of solutions. If only everyone would get up tomorrow and do what Jesus told that lawyer were the most important things . . . Try to imagine that. If only we really did that, the news could get wonderfully boring — or maybe even wonderfully encouraging.
That would solve so very many things. If only . . .
And He said to him,
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the great and foremost commandment.
The second is like it,
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37-38
❤️