THE GREAT COMMANDMENT (3 OF 10)
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
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The Great Commandment (3 of 10)
Series: Discipleship
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 10:25-37
Jesus liked to tell stories. He made up stories about fictitious people that would capture the imagination of his audience, allow them to set aside some of their cultural notions, and grapple with reality from a new perspective. It was a tactic he often used to help people better understand God. It was also a way to force people to take a closer look at themselves and their received traditions.
In this passage of Luke, we find Jesus talking with one of his critics who was trying to trap him into saying the wrong thing. ''What must I do to inherit the life of the ages?''
The Jews divided time into two sections. There was the age leading up to Messiah, and there was the age that began with the coming of Messiah. Jesus had spoken about a life of the ages, a quality that bridged both spans of time and was appropriate for the coming reality of Messiah's reign. Most people did not really understand what he meant, but they did understand that he was referring at least in part to participating in the coming reign of Messiah. That was something that all of the Jews yearned to experience.
This critic was asking Jesus specifically about assuring his place in that time to come. He wanted Jesus to offer a specific answer to bringing about the coming of Messiah and the Messianic age. There had been many false prophets and false Messiahs. Pinning Jesus down on this matter would be a simple way to attack and discredit him.
Jesus turned the question around to his critic. He asked him about his own reading of the Scriptures. The man replied, ''There are two basic commandments: Love Yahweh your God with all you are, and love your neighbor as yourself.''
At this statement, Jesus commended the man for an accurate reading of Scripture. He told him to do that and he would experience the life of the ages. While this was an obviously valid response, the man felt uncomfortable wit ...
Series: Discipleship
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 10:25-37
Jesus liked to tell stories. He made up stories about fictitious people that would capture the imagination of his audience, allow them to set aside some of their cultural notions, and grapple with reality from a new perspective. It was a tactic he often used to help people better understand God. It was also a way to force people to take a closer look at themselves and their received traditions.
In this passage of Luke, we find Jesus talking with one of his critics who was trying to trap him into saying the wrong thing. ''What must I do to inherit the life of the ages?''
The Jews divided time into two sections. There was the age leading up to Messiah, and there was the age that began with the coming of Messiah. Jesus had spoken about a life of the ages, a quality that bridged both spans of time and was appropriate for the coming reality of Messiah's reign. Most people did not really understand what he meant, but they did understand that he was referring at least in part to participating in the coming reign of Messiah. That was something that all of the Jews yearned to experience.
This critic was asking Jesus specifically about assuring his place in that time to come. He wanted Jesus to offer a specific answer to bringing about the coming of Messiah and the Messianic age. There had been many false prophets and false Messiahs. Pinning Jesus down on this matter would be a simple way to attack and discredit him.
Jesus turned the question around to his critic. He asked him about his own reading of the Scriptures. The man replied, ''There are two basic commandments: Love Yahweh your God with all you are, and love your neighbor as yourself.''
At this statement, Jesus commended the man for an accurate reading of Scripture. He told him to do that and he would experience the life of the ages. While this was an obviously valid response, the man felt uncomfortable wit ...
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