Today’s Gospel:  Matthew 22:34-40

REFLECTION
The real foundation upon which all legal and religious matters rested was the Ten Commandments, but these were insufficient to meet the requirements of Israel. The books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy mention many additional laws which became guidelines for the judges before whom various law suits were brought. To add to the confusion, throughout succeeding centuries the scribes added innumerable extra laws in which were included “the traditions of the fathers.” Ultimately, the true law had been obscured by the ridiculous requirements written by scribes and doctors of the law. The Talmud, to which reference is often made, expressed the “body of Jewish religious and civil law (with related commentaries and discussions). The Mishna was the first part of the Talmud, consisting of a collection of early rabbinical traditions and decisions. According to the teaching of the rabbis, there were more than 600 precepts in the law, and these were divided into two sections, named the “heavy” and the “light” commandments, to express that some were more important than others. They said that if a man were truly concerned with keeping some of the heavy commandments, he could be excused if he neglected the lighter ones. This led to confusion in many areas.

According to the estimate by the Jews, therefore, some commandment must be “greatest.” Some of them contended that the law of the sabbath was the greatest commandment, some the law of sacrifice, some that of circumcision, and some pleaded for the wearing of phylacteries.  The Talmud reckons the commandments at 613; of which 365 are negative and 248 affirmative; but our Lord’s enumeration is TWO; to Jesus, all the Law is fulfilled when a person loves God and man.

The scribe in today’s Gospel who came to ask the question about the prior commandment could have had these problems in mind. Believing Jesus to be an expert Teacher, he desired to know the Lord’s opinion on those things, and was amazed when the Savior ignored man-made laws and stressed the importance of God’s word spoken to Moses.

The aims of the Pharisees remained unchanged; they hoped to embroil Jesus in the theological arguments disrupting the nation. If Jesus supported any one of the many interpretations, He would automatically enrage people who had other ideas. The twenty-second chapter of Matthew is filled with repeated efforts by the Pharisees to entangle Jesus in His words; to make Him contradict Himself, and arouse opposition of any kind. A verbal war had been declared, and there appeared to be no cessation in the counterattacks being made by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. Every sect within the nation was antagonistic to the Lord whose preaching exposed their shortcomings. Jesus had to exercise constant care; one false word or action would have led to disaster. To safeguard against these insidious attacks, Jesus often rose early in the morning to climb the mountain and be alone with God. To be aware of need is halfway to winning the ensuing battle.

It should be considered that whereas the lawyer asked about one commandment, the Savior mentioned two. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” A profession of love for God will always be suspect if that love is not directed toward neighbors. The essence of true religion is to serve others, for this is the will of our heavenly Father. God never directed any of His servants to become hermits. To live alone is to die alone. Love imprisoned within a soul is meaningless; love must be expressed. There is no greater privilege than to lift a burden from the shoulders of weary travelers, and bring light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. If a man never helps another, he has outlived his usefulness in a world of need.

Today’s Reading:  Ex 22:20-26

PRAYER
Lord, let me see You in my fellowmen’s face, especially those who are in most need of help and love.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.