“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40 ESV¹

Read Matthew 22:34-40 & Mark 12:28-34

Sometimes two or more items are grouped to make one new entity. A mixture combines different elements, kinds, or quantities to form a unique blend. A merger joins two or more businesses into a single enterprise. An alloy is a composition of two or more metals, or a metal with a nonmetal, making a new substance. This incorporation of two into one is not only found in the physical realm but in the relational and spiritual realms as well. One of the interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees is evidence of this.

“When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’” (Matthew 22:34-36). “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:29-31). “‘On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:40). “And the scribe said to Him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that He is one and there is no other besides Him. And to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And after that, no one dared to ask Him any more questions” (Mark 12:29-34).

Two Groups—One Goal

Pharisees and Sadducees were two of the prominent religious groups of Jesus’ time on Earth. The Pharisees were the more conservative of the two; the Sadducees the more liberal. They differed in some of their beliefs, particularly concerning the existence of the spiritual world and the afterlife. This difference caused at least one violent dispute between the members of these two groups. (See Acts 23:6-10).

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were constantly trying to one-up the other group. Earlier in the day of the event we are discussing currently, the Pharisees had been stumped by Jesus (see Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17 & Luke 20:20-26).² Immediately before this conversation, Jesus had perplexed the Sadducees (see Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27 & Luke 20:27-40).³

But there was one thing the Pharisees and the Sadducees agreed upon—that Jesus was dangerous for their religious system. Therefore, each group often opposed Jesus and His message.

“[So,] when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together” (Matthew 22:34).

Hoping for religious prominence, with renewed vigor, the Pharisees attempted to take on the One who had shut down their competition.

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him” (Matthew 22:35).

Now, it is important to note:

“When the Bible mentions ‘teachers of the law’ (Luke 5:17) or ‘lawyers’ (Luke 14:3, ESV), it is referring to the religious leaders who were experts in the Mosaic Law. The modern-day court system, with prosecuting attorneys and defense attorneys, did not really exist at that time.”⁴

To complete their one goal to discredit Jesus, the Pharisees sent in one of their most learned representatives, an expert in the Mosaic Law, to ask Jesus a seemingly impossible question.

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law’” (Matthew 22:36).

 Two Rules—One Commandment

“Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:29-31).

Jesus was quoting two separate commandments in the Books of the Law.

“‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might’” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

“‘“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD”’” (Leviticus 19:18).

Jesus boiled down the hundreds of commandments of the Mosaic Law into two in which all were encompassed.

“‘On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:34-40).

Though these were two separate rules, they are really one commandment to love. If you cannot keep the second commandment to love others, you are not keeping the first to love God.

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21).

 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh but through love, serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:13-14).

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).

Two Purposes—One Action

Jesus passed the test the lawyer presented. In a couple of sentences, Jesus successfully summarized the whole Law. And the impressed lawyer humbly conceded.

“And the scribe said to Him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that He is one and there is no other besides Him. And to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices’” (Mark 12:32-33).

In making this comment, the expert in the Law was evidencing his deep understanding of the Holy Scriptures. He referenced the account of King Saul’s disobedience that cost him the kingship.

“And Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams’” (1 Samuel 15:22).

And the lawyer accurately interpreted some of the words of the prophets.

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).

“‘With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on High? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:6-8)?

Interestingly, Jesus had previously told the scribes, Pharisees, and teachers of the Law to look into this concept when He said:

“‘Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matthew 9:13).

“And if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the guiltless’” (Matthew 12:7)

It appears that this lawyer heeded Jesus’ advice and did look into the meaning of “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” What he discovered impressed Jesus.

“And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And after that, no one dared to ask Him any more questions” (Mark 12:34).

But, by and large, the religious leaders who were serious about doing many of the right things ended up doing them for the wrong reasons. The actions of many of the Pharisees were for personal gain.

“In His teaching, [Jesus] said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation’” (Mark 12:38-40).

“‘Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven … When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others’” (Matthew 6:1, 5a).

Two people can be doing the exact same thing—praying, for instance—but doing it for two very different reasons. God is more concerned about one’s heart than one’s outward actions. Righteous acts are only worth something in the eternal realm if they are motivated by the love in one’s heart.

Two Laws—One Helper

The Pharisees, the very ones who were testing and ultimately agreeing with Jesus on the most important commandment were, in fact, those least keeping it.

“Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you but not the works they do. For they preach but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger’” (Matthew 23:1-4).

The LORD issued His commands for the benefit and freedom of His people. For each of the two Laws that Jesus emphasized, the Scriptures explain the advantage of complying with the specific law and indicate a promise of God’s help to obey that command. Concerning the requirement found in Deuteronomy 6:5, the LORD made these promises.

“‘And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good’” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, emphasis added).

“‘And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live’” (Deuteronomy 30:6, emphasis added).

The commandment to love God with all one is and all one has is intended to be a blessing for the good of those who are likewise devoted to the LORD. And God Himself promised to give His children the ability to love Him as He desired by removing from them anything that hindered them from obeying so that they may be further blessed.

In regards to Leviticus 19:18, Jesus shared the reason for the command to love your neighbor as yourself:

“And behold, a man came up to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ …  ‘If you would enter life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 19:16, 17b-19, emphasis added).

The Apostle Paul shared the secret for how one could love one’s neighbor as oneself.

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law … Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law … The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then, let us cast off the works of darkness and … put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:8, 10, 12 & 14, emphasis added).

Jesus promised eternal life to those who love others in God’s power. Elsewhere, Jesus explained what He meant by eternal life.

“This is eternal life, that [those who have faith in Christ] know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

The power to love others comes from the Holy Spirit whom we have through a relationship with Christ. That is what the Apostle Paul meant by “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). It is impossible in our own strength to love others like ourselves unless Christ, through His Spirit, does the loving through us.

“‘Apart from Me, you can do nothing’” (John 15:5b).

“The fruit of the Spirit is love …” (Galatians 5:22a).

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (1 John 4:8).

Two in Ethnicity—One in Unity

When Jesus was asked about the most important commandment in the Law, He made a point of first drawing His audience to the oneness of God.

“Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one’” (Mark 12:29).

This section of Scripture is known by Jews as the Shema. The word shema is the word for hear in Hebrew, the first word in the command.

“The Shema is the centerpiece of the daily morning and evening prayer services and is considered by some the most essential prayer in all of Judaism. An affirmation of God’s singularity and kingship, its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment …

From the verse in Deuteronomy 6:7, which commands to ‘Recite them … when you lie down and when you get up,’ the rabbis determined that the Shema should be recited twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, which is why it is included in both the morning and evening services. The first verse of the Shema is also recited at the conclusion of Yom Kippur and is included in the Kedusha [prayer] service on Shabbat. It is customary to recite the Shema, or a portion thereof, immediately before bedtime, and when one’s death is believed to be imminent. It is also a custom to cover one’s eyes while reciting the Shema.”⁵

Reciting the Shema reminded the Jews of their special relationship with God. The distinction of having but one God made a separation between the Israelites and the surrounding nations. As followers of the One True God, the Jews were to remain holy and set apart for God. The LORD commanded that His People not get intertwined with the other nations and begin worshipping their gods. But any person from another people group who was willing to give up his/her ungodly culture and subject him/herself to the LORD was always welcomed into Israel and given equal rights.

“‘And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants; everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast to My covenant—these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a House of Prayer for all Peoples’” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

“‘If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you’” (Exodus 12:48-49).

“‘So, you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you, they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance,’ declares the LORD GOD” (Ezekiel 47:21-23).

Two Peoples—One Relationship

This acceptance and equity between such differing groups was a picture of what the Messiah would do when He came. Jesus came to bring unity between God and man.

“‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him’” (John 3:16-17).

“In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19a).

“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ … For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly … For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life” (Romans 5:1, 6, 10).

“You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” (Colossians 1:21-22).

And Jesus came to bring unity between individual Believers. The Apostle Paul exhorted the churches he planted:

“In Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).

“In Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him, we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:13-19).

“So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:1-4).

Jesus’ primary purpose in coming was to restore that which had been divided. As He spent His final days on Earth, unity was the thing that was foremost in His mind. Jesus prayed:

“‘I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave Me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word … I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours … Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one … I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me’” (John 17:6, 9, 11b, 20-23).

Two Become One

How can the oneness between God and man be attained? How can agreement among individual believers that mirrors that of the Son and the Father be achieved? The answer to these questions can be found in Jesus’ response to the lawyer.

“When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God’” (Mark 12:34a).

The Kingdom of God is not primarily a realm or place but a relationship with a Person. The Kingdom of Heaven is not something far off in the future but it is something that can be experienced in this lifetime. What Jesus referred to as the “Kingdom of Heaven,” the Apostle Paul called, “in Christ.” Being in Christ not only consists of our position in Him but also His presence in us.

When we believe in Christ for salvation, we positionally enter into Him. Spiritually, we are citizens of Heaven seated in Heavenly realms with Christ (see Ephesians 2:6). We belong to Christ, and the Holy Spirit comes and resides on Earth in our physical bodies. We, in effect, exchange our lives, with all of our weaknesses and sin, for His life of power and righteousness. Jesus takes all we are and gives us all of who He is.

“For our sake, He [the Father] made Him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to all who come in faith to Jesus for salvation. It is through the Power of the Holy Spirit that we can have unity with God and with others.

“His Divine Power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Though Jesus became a Man to reconcile people to God and to one another, people do not become God when they enter into Christ and His Spirit takes up residence in them. When we are in Christ, we are changed. But unlike mixtures, mergers, and alloys, we are not melded into a form where each part is no longer or barely recognized.

This unification is more like a marriage. In marriage, the “two become one” (Genesis 2:24) in relationship, goals, and family but each person in the union retains his/her individuality. In Christ, we begin to act like Him, become interested in those things that are dear to His heart, and start producing fruit for Him, but we retain our unique identities. Likewise, Christ remains God.

Usually, when two or more things are grouped together to make one new entity this new union serves a purpose that each of its individual parts was unable to accomplish alone. A tasty and nutritious meal is created by mixing individual ingredients; together they are superior than they are alone. In a merger, companies are able to serve their clients in an improved manner than before they joined forces. With an alloy, the new material is able to function more effectively in the job required than each individual part would separately.

When they joined forces, the Pharisees and Sadducees, together in the Sanhedrin, were able to convict Jesus (see Matthew 26:57-67). Obviously, this was part of God’s plan and this conviction didn’t ultimately bring an end to Jesus, but when they were in agreement, they were able to briefly accomplish a goal.

Likewise, it is the combination of loving God and loving others that fulfills the entire Law. It is in following the commandments of God out of devotion to God and through His Power that produces blessing, life, and joy in otherwise burdensome tasks. It is unity among Believers that overcomes individual differences and testifies to the power of the Gospel. And it is when we and Jesus become one that we are more influential and fruitful than we could have ever been otherwise.

Jesus told His disciples:

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

It is astounding to consider but we have something Jesus does not have. We have physical bodies on Earth. When we allow Christ’s Spirit to work through our human nature, our bodies become His and we become His hands and feet to do His work with His Power in this world. Two, yet one in Christ, is the ultimate satisfaction for our souls and pure joy for Jesus Himself.

 

¹ Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.

² For my commentary on this event, check out Faithful Rendering | Blue Turtle Trails

³ For my commentary on this event, check out Say It Isn’t So! | Blue Turtle Trails

⁴ https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-lawyers.html

⁵ https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-shema/