What is the greatest commandment?

Which is the most important commandment in the law?

Loving God is the most important. Second is loving others. Some people consider loving others is more important and do all humanitarian works based on this thought imprinted in their minds. However it is your love for God that should enable you to love your neighbor.

For some (infact all of us) loving self is more important. Nowhere in the list Jesus says it is important. Infact He has told to deny our own selves. And it is disgusting in His eyes, the pride of life.

Deep down to the core, what does the list in your heart look like?

Image credit: https://daybydayinourworld.com/the-greatest-commandment/

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Divorce

It was not what God had originally intended Matt:19:8 Divorce was not originally intended by God. It was given because of the hard hearts of men. When God created human beings, He created them as male and female. He created them as one, as they join together in marriage. The two are united as one. And therefore no one should split apart what God has joined together. Man and wife. Woman and husband - you have been in God's plan, before even you were created, before even time began He had you both together in His mind. There will be quarrels, differences of opinions, conflict of ideas. But that is not an excuse for you to go separate ways. God has created you as one, sees as one. May be it is near to impossible to live together. But trusting in the God who brought you together; stay on. Not just for the children's sake. Love your neighbour as yourself. Who is your nearest neighbour than your spouse? Love your enemies. He/she is definitely not your enemy. She is part of y...

Woe #1

Matt:23:13-14 The first of the seven woes that Jesus tells about the teachers of the law. You shut the door of the kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. Are you a stumbling block for a seeker? Because of the habits and rituals you follow. Are you malleable? Teachable? Are you willing to change? Are you willing to unlearn? Because if you stick on to that you might be discouraging another person who wants to come to Christ. When we had the privilege to visit the Holy Land, in the very place of Golgotha there were priests who were custodians of the place, from different Christian denominations like - the Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox. The rush was too heavy. But the arrogance and rudeness of these priests was even more difficult to handle and disheartening. At the very place where their Saviour was tortured to death by the religious leaders, for their own sins, these representations of the 'Christian' church want...

Because you do not know - a prose

Matt:22:29 Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures and you don't know the power of God. If you know, you would pray in accordance with His will and believe you already got it. If you know, you would know that all things God works for good and will not be anxious. If you know, you would know that He is with you till the end of days and will not fret. If you know, you will desire to know Him more through His word, for He said that is eternal life. If you know, you would go to the throne of grace with confidence, and not plead in prayer. Because you do not know, you are not thankful, you are fretful, you are angry if things do not go your way. Are you emotionally labile? Are you short tempered? Do you take things for granted? How do you approach sin? How much time in a day, do you spend reading the Word. How much time in a day, do you pray? How much time do you 'entertain' yourself? I...

Parable of the unforgiving debtor

Matt:18:21-35 In conjunction with the Lord's Prayer - forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us - this parable is a tough pill to swallow. But if you received grace without conditions, you give freely without conditions - this is logically correct. If you are not able to forgive freely as you have been put up with, then either you have not understood the depth from which you have been pulled out of or you sillify the forgiveness that you have received. Freely you have received, freely you give. Why is it so difficult to forgive as you are forgiven? Probably because of the self love and pride in our hearts that entangles us, preventing us to let go. Father forgive me for the unforgiveness I have shown to others, forgetting the forgiveness that I have received from you. Image courtesy: https://www.stwilfridskirkby.org/2020/09/13/sermon-the-parable-of-the-unforgiving-servant-matthew-chapter-18-v-21-35/

Woe # 3

Matt:23:16-22 The third woe is against those who are deeply ritualistic. So much so that, they think and teach, that, that is the only way to heaven. Swearing by substances in the Temple (where Jesus had already said, let your yes be yes and no be no), ie considering the inanimate substances with high religiosity and piety. Jesus asks, How blind! Which is more important - the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? What things do you consider as sacraments? As a young boy, I used to believe that participating in the Lord's table in itself would make you holy. And therefore I used to meticulously part take in it every week. Not just things. Habits too. Praying can be ritualistic, when you pray with a cold heart. Or you utter a prayer repeatedly. Taking your quiet time can be ritualistic too. When you didn't get time one day, would you quickly read one verse and rush? Fearing some harm, if you hadn't? Being part of the church activities, even o...

Woe # 2

Matt:23:15 Setting up a bad example for those who look up to you. Woe unto you. Your subordinates, your juniors, your students, your apprentices, your children. What quality of Christ did you show them today? Patience? Faith? How did you handle crisis as they looked up to you? Frantically running, spewing venom, with your hair on end? Or Was it trust in God that you showed? Was it peace that passes all understanding? Was it clinging to God alone that they saw? Did you leave a way for them to Jesus or did you break it down? If the latter, woe unto you! Image credit: https://www.eschoolnews.com/educational-leadership/2024/01/22/leading-is-learning-school-leaders/

Parable of the evil farmers

Matt:21:33-46 The owner - built the vineyard, dug a pit, made a watchtower, bulit the vinepress, employed the tenants. He owns the place. The tenant farmers - works out daily in the farm, thinking that the produce that they have toiled for is theirs - that is rebellion. That is self. No matter what they say or do - they do not literally own the place. They have worked hard, agreed. But legally they do not own the land. And as long as they do not own the property, the produce is also not theirs. They are stewards. They are answerable. They have to give back. The owner will give them what deems best for him. This owner is kind and good. He is no hard taskmaster, who is stingy. He just wanted a share of the produce. Not the whole thing and give the tenants ruthlessly. He gives freely. Remember we do not own. We are tenants. Everything that we think we own - are not literally and legally ours. We are answerable to the master, who owns, who possesses, who ...

The halfbaked Bard

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