Day 22 – September 28, 2026 – Matthew 22

There are quite a few seemingly unrelated teachings in this text. Jesus is being clearly tested and the testors are the religious leaders from all sides. He does give us the greatest commandment in this Scripture which is worth repeating. We are to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. The law can be summarized by these commandments. In modern Christianity it is difficult to find a good balance. Often we can sense that we may think that salvation is all that is needed. Once I have a personal relationship with Jesus, that is all that is needed. It is a beginning, it is an important step. But Jesus says that we have to love our neighbor as ourselves and he puts that on par with loving God. We rarely do that. It is impossible hearing these words of Jesus to think that all we have to do is love God and everything else will follow. No, we have to love God and love neighbor and then, and only then, will everything else follow.