Meditation

Hi there,

The outcome of today's passage is strikingly similar to what we saw last week in chapter 21.

In both cases, Jesus is publicly questioned by the religious leaders, and in both cases, they leave without answers. Not because there were none but because they weren’t willing to accept the implications.

Today, after Jesus turns the tables and asks his question—about the identity of the Messiah—they find themselves once again unable to respond honestly. They had hoped to trap him, but instead, his question reveals their unwillingness to see the truth.​

This passage also marks the end of the public questioning of Jesus and the beginning of the secret plotting.

From this point forward, the tone shifts. Jesus continues to teach, but what the religious leaders wouldn’t acknowledge in public, they now begin to act on in secret.

There's no longer a debate but a plot.​

Today's text is Matthew 22:40-46.

Today's verses are in black and red and yesterday's are in gray and are provided for context and clarity

The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied​

43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’

45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Encouragement

“We have renounced secret and shameful ways;

we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.

On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly

we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:2

​

Andy​

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Andy

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