The Great Commandment Series

THE GREAT COMMANDMENT

Matthew 22 v. 15 - 46

The Pharisees problem with Rome v. 15 - 22

v. 17 "is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not"

1. The source of their problem was pride v. 15 - who came? -the Pharisees, How they came? - to entangle or lay a snare for the Lord, why they came? because of jealousy - they had a problem with his wisdom, his witness, his walk and his work

2. The subtlelty of their problem v. 16, Herodians were more in favour of tribute to the Herods and indirectly Rome and the Pharisees were very much against

3.The solution to their problem v. 21 - "render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar and unto God the things which are God’s"

There was :-

reproof here v. 18 - "ye hypocrites",

reprimand here v. 21 i.e. "render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars" -with no lawlessness or robbery,

revelation here v. 21 i.e. "unto God the things that are God’s" To God belongs :-

our life, our powers, our faculties, and our means for God’s service,

recognition here v. 22 "they marvelled, and left him and went their way" - never man spake like this man

The Sadducees problem with the Resurrection v. 23 - 33

28 "in the resurrection whose wife shall she be?" there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, nor future reward and punishment as far as the Sadducees were concerned.

(a) The reason for such darkness was their ignorance of the scriptures v. 29 "ye do err, not knowing the scriptures" - "nor the power of God"

(b) The ramifications of such darkness was confusion - v 28 "who’s wife will she be?"

(c) The results of such darkness was hopelessness and heedlessness - they were sad-u-cee

(d) The response to such darkness was scriptural v. 32 "I am the God of Abraham" "God is not the God of the dead but of the living"

The Lawyers problem with Rules v. 34 - 40,

v. 36 "Master which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

- his answer in v. 37 "thou shalt love the Lord thy God"

(1) Who we’re to love - the Lord thy God, the Lord thy creator, the Lord thy preserver, the Lord thy provider, the Lord thy judge

(2) How we’re to love - personally "thou", positively "shalt", presently "love" now, perfectly "with all thy heart, all thy soul, and all thy mind," practically v. 39 "and thy neighbour as thyself."

(3) Why we’re to love i.e. "we love Him because He first loved us"

The greatest command because of its:-

(a) Anitiquity - its as old as the world itself

(b) Dignity - proceeding from God and refering to God

(c) Excellence - its the spirit of sonship "by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples."

(d) Justice - just rendering to God His due

(e) Sufficiency - for holiness in life and happiness in eternity

(f) Fruitfulness - its the root and fulfilment of the law

(g) Virtue and efficacy - by love God reigns and rules in the heart

(h) Extent - leaving all to the creator

(i) Necessity - love is indispensible

(j) Duration - earth and heaven shall pass but not love "charity never faileth"

The Lord’s problem with Recognition v. 41 - 46,

v. 42 "what think ye of Christ?" - whose Son is He? Recognition :-

(1) Of His relationship with His Father- because he is the eternal Son of God

(2) Of His righteousness - because he is without sin

(3) Of His redemption - because he is the Saviour of lost sinners

(4) Of His resurrection - because he’s risen from the grave

(5) Of His remission of sins- because he is the lamb of God

(6) Of His return for saints - because he is the coming King

(7) Of His rejection of sinners - because he is the rejected stone

What think ye of Christ? - is it nothing, anything,or everything?

(a) What the Pharisees thought v. 42 - " he is the Son of David"

(b) What David thought Psalm 110 v. 1 "the Lord(Jehovah) said unto my Lord"

(c) What do you think? - is He your Lord?, your Soverign?, your Saviour?