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Two factions of Israel's religious leaders were temporarily allied in playing "stump the chump" with Jesus. First Jesus silenced the Sadducees. Then the Pharisees pitted their expert against Him. The Pharisees had classified more than 600 laws, often trying to distinguish the more important from the less important. So to their minds, the question their expert posed was luring Jesus into a quagmire.

Matthew 22:34-40 Matthew 22:34-40

1. Do you think the Pharisees placed more emphasis on what people should do or what they shouldn't do?
2. Which aspect did Jesus emphasize?
3. How can you love God as a person, not a mere force (See John 14:9 and 16:27)?
4. What spheres of love are suggested by "heart," "soul," and "mind"?
5. How does the word all restrict the way your love may be attached to other objects?
6. In the second commandment, why is a person's self-love taken for granted?
7. How would displacing your self-love with God-love make it easier to engage in true neighbor-love?

Ask God to help you penetrate through daily responsibilities and church involvement to a personal encounter with Him.

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"

37 Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

When I feel driven and distracted, Your voice gets drowned out. Help me, Lord, to discover how to focus on Your presence in my life.

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