Matthew 22:34-40 - The Greatest Commandments

When the Pharisees gathered around Jesus in Matthew 22:34–40, one of them—a lawyer—asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” His question was an innocent question. He and they others were testing Jesus, hoping to trap Him with His own words. But Jesus’ answer didn’t just silence their debate—it cut straight to the heart of what it means to follow God.

Jesus simply replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In just a few short sentences, Jesus had summarized the entire Old Testament. Everything God had ever commanded— every rule, every principle, every prophet’s message—was rooted in these two simple truths:  love God completely, and love others sincerely.

Jesus placed the love of God first for a reason. Before we can love anyone else rightly, we must love God fully. Loving God “with all your heart, soul, and mind” means giving Him first place in every part of life—our emotions, our choices, our thoughts. It’s not a partial or convenient love. It’s wholehearted devotion.

When we love God this way, obedience stops being a chore and becomes a joy. As Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Genuine love for God changes how we worship, how we spend our time, and how we treat other people.

Then Jesus added, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Real love for God overflows into love for others. John wrote, “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

This love isn’t about convenience or preference—it’s about compassion, humility, and service. It’s the kind of love that forgives, helps, and gives even when it’s hard–especially when it’s hard! Jesus modeled that perfectly for us, laying down His life not just for His friends, but for sinners (Romans 5:8).

If we can understand these two commandments, everything else will fall into place. These commands guide our relationships, our worship, our priorities, and our purpose. The Christian life isn’t just a checklist—in a sense, it’s a love story:  God loved us first, and our lives are meant to reflect that love back to Him and to others around us.

In a world filled with complexity and distraction, Jesus brings us back to the center:  Love God. Love people. If we can do those two things faithfully, we will fulfill everything God ever asked of His people.

Matthew 18:35 - It's the Mercy

Matthew 18:35:
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Peter had listened to Jesus and heard a thorough “procedure list” for dealing with sinners -- and what to do when they fail to change.

But what about when they do change?

Peter wondered, would he have to keep forgiving them, or could he limit the times he forgave them to maybe -- seven times?

We are often sinned against by some who later ask us to forgive them. Then -- they go and do the same thing to us again! Each time they come back -- begging our understanding and forgiveness.

Sometimes it’s genuine -- and other times we just feel they are playing us for a patsy. It is hard to tell.

How much patience do we have to extend to those who keep doing it to us, over -- and over -- and over?

Jesus gave Peter, and those around him, a parable to chew on.

He told of a King’s servant who had built up a debt that was more than he could ever pay back.  The king demanded repayment -- and wanted to set up conditions for repayment. In his case -- the man -- his wife -- his children -- and all he had -- would be sold to repay the debt.

The man, filled with fear and dread, begged the king to give him a little more time -- and he would repay it.

The king -- knowing the debt was so great it could not be repaid -- had mercy on him. He not only stopped the sale of the man and his family -- but also forgave the man his entire debt!

The lesson Peter and the others were to learn, came from what the man did after that…

Newly forgiven of his own immense debt, he went out and confronted someone who owed him a small debt -- and put him in prison until he got payment!

The lesson for Peter and the others to grasp?

The offense is not important -- it is the mercy!

The number of times you forgive is not important -- it is the mercy!

How can we hope for forgiveness and mercy -- which we all so desperately need -- if we do not offer forgiveness and mercy ourselves?

How we treat others is a good indication of how we will be treated.

Earlier, Peter and the others heard Jesus say, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

Think about it... No matter how you have been offended and sinned against -- it pales in comparison to our offenses and sins against the Father -- and He didn’t just forgive our debt -- His Son paid it!