May 22, 2019
Luke 10:25-28 New Living Translation (NLT)
Since cell phone texting has come along, it has made some quick informative or directive communications easier, hasn’t it? Most of the time, I find texting helpful in my relationships and as a leader to deliver some quick information. Short and brief, direct and to the point, bottom line response and all people have to do is read it and/or do it. But, better add a few emojis if you make it too short, so you can show the emotional tone of the text!
The leaders of religious law did not have to deal with cell phone texting, but many of them came to hear Jesus with a preconceived idea about devotion to God based on the text of the Torah. It was the job of these lawyers to interpret the law in the life of the people. In our passage today, an expert in religious law asks a question to test Jesus’ message; it is not necessarily adversarial in nature, but he wants clarification. It is all right to have questions; Jesus can handle them. Many times we know pretty much how Jesus may answer based on God’s Word, a bigger issue is whether or not we are willing to do what he says? In our passage, Jesus chooses to keep things short and brief in the biblical text. He spins the question back to the leader who quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. So, I imagine if Jesus had a cell phone to end the communication he would have texted, “Right! Do it!” ?
Luke 10:25-28 The Most Important Commandment
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
Prayer: Lord, loving you completely with every aspect of my being is where I find my joy. Speak into my life with your wisdom and tell me to do it! In Jesus’ name. Amen.