The Gospel of Matthew
The Greatest Commandment

This devotional is written by Helen Bunker. Helen has been part of St Mary's for over 9 years and is a Marylebone local and Small Group leader
Matthew 22:34-46
The greatest commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
37 Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself."[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'
Whose son is the Messiah? 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 'What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?'
'The son of David,' they replied.
43 He said to them, 'How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him "Lord"? For he says,
44 '"The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.'"
45 If then David calls him "Lord", how can he be his son?' 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
37 Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself."[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'
Whose son is the Messiah? 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 'What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?'
'The son of David,' they replied.
43 He said to them, 'How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him "Lord"? For he says,
44 '"The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.'"
45 If then David calls him "Lord", how can he be his son?' 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
Reflection
These verses contain the greatest commandment, which in many ways is beautifully simple. To love God with all that we are, and to love our neighbour.
As I write this devotional during Lockdown 3 in England, when our lives are in many ways diminished from what they were only a year ago, I wonder how easy you find it to follow. Do you have more space, time and energy to give to Him, or do you feel so squashed and squeezed by the events of the last year that even getting through the day feels hard?
Many of us have lived in a heightened state of vigilance all year, whatever our circumstances. Months of pandemic worry has taken its toll and we are tired.
Can we make it really simple? To pare back what Jesus is saying? To trust that that is enough?
If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, with our entire being, then we will want to serve Him. And when we love Him, we can't help but love others because we are filled with His love and that love flows through us. The more we love Him, the more our love continues to grow. If you feel you barely have anything left to give, give what you have. If you are full to the brim with love, give what you have. That love will grow. It cannot help it.
If you're finding today tough, I encourage you to drop the resistance. To trust and to give it to Him. To soften and treat yourself with gentleness and kindness. To simply love.
I invite you to pray this prayer:
Thank You for loving me. Help me to love You more and to reflect Your love by loving myself and my neighbour.
As I write this devotional during Lockdown 3 in England, when our lives are in many ways diminished from what they were only a year ago, I wonder how easy you find it to follow. Do you have more space, time and energy to give to Him, or do you feel so squashed and squeezed by the events of the last year that even getting through the day feels hard?
Many of us have lived in a heightened state of vigilance all year, whatever our circumstances. Months of pandemic worry has taken its toll and we are tired.
Can we make it really simple? To pare back what Jesus is saying? To trust that that is enough?
If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, with our entire being, then we will want to serve Him. And when we love Him, we can't help but love others because we are filled with His love and that love flows through us. The more we love Him, the more our love continues to grow. If you feel you barely have anything left to give, give what you have. If you are full to the brim with love, give what you have. That love will grow. It cannot help it.
If you're finding today tough, I encourage you to drop the resistance. To trust and to give it to Him. To soften and treat yourself with gentleness and kindness. To simply love.
I invite you to pray this prayer:
Thank You for loving me. Help me to love You more and to reflect Your love by loving myself and my neighbour.
Recent
Archive
2021
January
The Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of Matthew
February
The Gospel of MatthewTeach me how to prayThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewAsh WednesdayThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of Matthew
March
The Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of MatthewThe Gospel of Matthew
2020
January
New YearNew YearNew YearThe Path to Spiritual GrowthEvery Night with MattThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
February
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
March
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
April
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
May
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukePentecostal PrayerPentecostal PrayerPentecostal PrayerPentecost PrayerPentecost PrayerPentecost Prayer
June
July
August
September
EvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismEvangelismPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPrayer for the City
October
Prayer for the CityPrayer for the CityPhilippiansPhilippiansPhilippiansPhilippiansPhilippiansPhilippiansPhilippiansPhilippiansHow to read the bibleConquering ComparisonThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit
November
Elijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaElijah and ElishaHow to PrayPraying with PaulPraying with PaulPraying with PaulPraying with PaulPraying with PaulPraying with PaulPraying with PaulPhilemonIntro to Advent
2019
January
John the Baptist prepares the wayJesus announces the good newsJesus heals manyJesus forgives and healsJesus heals on the SabbathParable of the sowerLamp on a standJesus restores a demon possessed manJesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick womanA prophet without honourJohn the Baptist beheadedJesus feeds the five thousandJesus walks on waterThat which defiles
February
Faith of the Syro-phonecian womanFeeding 4000Jesus heals a blind man at BethsaidaTransfigurationJesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spiritJesus predicts his death a second timeDivorceThe rich and the kingdom of GodJesus predicts his death a third timeBlind Bartimaeus receives his sightJesus comes to Jerusalem as kingJesus curses a fig tree and clear the templeThe authority of Jesus questionedPaying tax to CaesarThe greatest commandmentThe destruction of the temple
March
June
July
A Fellowship of DifferenceLove your neighbourLove your enemyNeither Jew nor GentilePray for PrideEphesians 6:10-13Ephesians 6:14Ephesians 6:15Ephesians 6:16Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:18-20LoveLove, for the day is nearLove is patientGod is loveCreationSabbathThe Lord does not grow wearyPsalm 23Come all you who are wearyBe stillJesus asleep in the boatQuiet you with love
August
Proverbs 1Proverbs 2Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 5Proverbs 6Proverbs 7Proverbs 8Proverbs 9Proverbs 10Proverbs 11Proverbs 12Proverbs 13Proverbs 14Proverbs 15Proverbs 16Proverbs 17Proverbs 18Proverbs 19Proverbs 20Proverbs 21Proverbs 22Proverbs 23Proverbs 24Proverbs 25Proverbs 26Proverbs 27Proverbs 28Proverbs 29Proverbs 30Proverbs 31
September
October
A Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleBack very soonSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the Mount
November
Sermon on the MountSermon on the MountOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the Thessalonians
No Comments