Better Burnt Burnt-offerings Fellow Forms Heart Important Intelligence Less Love Mind Neighbor Neighbour Offerings One's Oneself Sacrifices Self Soul Strength Understanding
12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
12:33 To love him with all the heart - To love and serve him, with all the united powers of the soul in their utmost vigour; and to love his neighbour as himself - To maintain the same equitable and charitable temper and behaviour toward all men, as we, in like circumstances, would wish for from them toward ourselves, is a more necessary and important duty, than the offering the most noble and costly sacrifices.
12:28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men's transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy. Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ.
Better Burnt Burnt-Offerings Far Fellow Forms gs Heart Important Love Mind Neighbor Neighbour Offerings One's Oneself Sacrifices Soul Strength Understanding Whole
Better Burnt Burnt-Offerings Far Fellow Forms gs Heart Important Love Mind Neighbor Neighbour Offerings One's Oneself Sacrifices Soul Strength Understanding Whole
