April 25th, 2021
Text: Luke 10:29
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ (NRSV)
I find Luke’s version of the “Great Commandments” extremely interesting. Jesus is not the one who gives the answer it is one of the religious leaders who gives the answer in response to Jesus. This religious leader knew that to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and to love your neighbor as your self was what God expected of those who would receive eternal life.
However, it is also clear in Luke’s Gospel that this religious leader was looking for loopholes because he was not loving his neighbor as himself. I say this because of the wording in our text for today, “But wanting to justify himself…” One does not try to or need to justify oneself if they know they are doing what is right. There is no need to use mental gymnastics to reinterpret the plain words of scripture if in your heart you know you are in God’s will with what you are doing. There is no need to look for loopholes that allow you to live in ways that are opposed to Jesus’ teachings if you are obeying all that Jesus has commanded (see Matthew 28:20).
Are you looking for loopholes or are you looking to live your life in ways that bring glory to God and eternal life to you?
Pray with me:
God of love and God of righteousness forgive me when I spend more time trying to figure out how to get around your teachings and commands I find in scripture, than I do trying to love others the way you have loved me. AMEN.
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ (NRSV)
I find Luke’s version of the “Great Commandments” extremely interesting. Jesus is not the one who gives the answer it is one of the religious leaders who gives the answer in response to Jesus. This religious leader knew that to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and to love your neighbor as your self was what God expected of those who would receive eternal life.
However, it is also clear in Luke’s Gospel that this religious leader was looking for loopholes because he was not loving his neighbor as himself. I say this because of the wording in our text for today, “But wanting to justify himself…” One does not try to or need to justify oneself if they know they are doing what is right. There is no need to use mental gymnastics to reinterpret the plain words of scripture if in your heart you know you are in God’s will with what you are doing. There is no need to look for loopholes that allow you to live in ways that are opposed to Jesus’ teachings if you are obeying all that Jesus has commanded (see Matthew 28:20).
Are you looking for loopholes or are you looking to live your life in ways that bring glory to God and eternal life to you?
Pray with me:
God of love and God of righteousness forgive me when I spend more time trying to figure out how to get around your teachings and commands I find in scripture, than I do trying to love others the way you have loved me. AMEN.
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