Universal Utterings®
for August 23, 2024

A Godcast ® brought to you by

God First Ministries, Inc. 501c3

WWW.UNIVERSALUTTERINGS.COM

08-23-2024 Matthew 22 V-3440 Greatest Commandment; Neighbor Love Like Yourself

http://universalutterings.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08-23-2024-Matthew-22-V-3440-Greatest-Commandment-Neighbor-Love-Like-Yourself.mp3

The Book of Matthew 22 v-34 thru 40

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking,36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:34-40 recounts a significant interaction between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time. In this passage, a Pharisee, an expert in the Law, approaches Jesus with a question intended to test Him: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus responds by summarizing the essence of the Law and the Prophets in two foundational commandments.

He first cites Deuteronomy 6:5, stating, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This command emphasizes the importance of total devotion to God, underscoring that love for God should encompass every aspect of a person’s being—emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. The second commandment Jesus cites is from Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This command highlights the necessity of love and compassion toward others, establishing a moral foundation for interpersonal relationships.

Jesus concludes by stating that “on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” This assertion indicates that the entirety of the Jewish Law and the teachings of the prophets can be distilled into the principles of love for God and love for others. In doing so, Jesus reframes the understanding of religious adherence, suggesting that true righteousness is fundamentally rooted in love.

This passage is significant for several reasons. It encapsulates the core message of Jesus’ ministry, emphasizing that love should be at the heart of religious practice. Additionally, it challenges rigid legalism by prioritizing relational ethics over mere rule-following. Ultimately, these verses invite believers to reflect on the nature of their faith and the imperative to embody love in their relationship with God and with one another. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20

08-23-2024 Matthew 22 V-3440

**Greatest Commandment; Neighbor Love Like Yourself**

In the temple's midst, a question rose,

A Pharisee sought wisdom, truth to expose.

"Teacher," he asked, with a heart full of zeal,

"What is the greatest commandment you feel?"

With grace in His voice, the answer was clear,

"Love God with your whole heart, let Him draw near.

With all of your soul and your mind, too,

In every moment, let love shine through."

Then Jesus continued, His message profound,

"Love your neighbor as yourself, let kindness abound.

These two commands hold the Law's very core,

In love, find the essence, let compassion soar."

For all of the Prophets, their voices resound,

In love’s gentle whisper, true faith can be found.

No burdens of rules, no chains that confine,

Just love is the answer, both simple and divine.

So let us embrace the call to unite,

With hearts open wide, let our spirits take flight.

In loving our God and each other, we stand,

Together in grace, hand in hand, across the land.

For in love's sweet embrace, we find our true way,

A life of connection, come what may.

With every kind act, we fulfill heaven's dream,

In love's sacred dance, we find He who redeems. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

August 23, 2024 @ 05:59 AM EST

® Universal Utterings is brought to you by;

**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using [email protected], mailed to 1350 Aldo Rd. Babson Park, FL 33827, or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**