Caution: Don't Flat-line the Scriptures

S - Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV): "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

O - Scholars tell us that there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament and 1050 in the New Testament.  The answer Jesus gives to the expert's question reveals more than a statistical ranking. Jesus assumes and affirms that while all Scriptures are inspired they are not all of equal importance.  We know this because he tells us two are more important than all the rest; two are the superlatives … the greatest.  In fact, these two are so important that all others depend (hang) on them.  According to Jesus, regardless of how many commands the Scriptures contain, if these two are not engaged then all the rest are of little or no value (cf. Luke 10:25-37).  

A - Through my graduate education I was basically taught to "flat-line" the Scriptures.  Since all are inspired by God then all are of equal importance or value.  Jesus says different. While all are profitable all are not of the same weight or significance. Why is this so? It is because the Scriptures are given to humans and humans communicate with a range of importance in the things they say.  Jan and I are approaching our 40th wedding anniversary.  Over the years we've engaged in a lot of communication.  All of the communication from Jan to me is inspired by Jan but not all of it is of equal importance.  When Jan asks me to take out the garbage it is a request "fully inspired" by Jan. However, when Jan tells me she loves me … this is of the greatest significance to me of all her "inspired statements" over the years.  Jesus identified the most important instruction for all humans for every day and every situation. Today, I accept this assignment recognizing that as I embrace these two all the rest (promises, principles and instructions) are moving towards me. Also, if I'm not engaging them, all the rest of Scripture is moving away from me regardless of what I claim or pray … all hang on these two. 

P - God who is love,

Thank you for sending Jesus so we would know what you look like and how you want us to respond.  Thank you for engaging us in this way so we would be able to come near and stay near.  I do accept this primary assignment of loving you back and my neighbor as myself.  I admit that the work to which you call me is the work of believing.  I am asking you for help, not self-help.  All of this I say in Jesus' name.

Steve