A Day of Silence

The Gospels say little to nothing about what happened on Wednesday during Holy Week. Luke, however, indicates that Jesus was in the temple teaching that day just as He did the day before: "And He was teaching daily in the temple" (Luke 19:47a). Again Luke 21:37 adds, "And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet."

As Jesus settled in, quietly teaching in the temple, Satan went out to play. The chief priests and the scribes were busy right along with Satan as they "sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people" (Luke 22:2). With the leaders of the people on board, Satan went to work on Judas Iscariiot: "Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude" (vs. 3-6).

So Wednesday was a busy day for Satan and for Judas. All the while, Jesus continued to teach in the temple throughout the day. Nothing is said as to what He taught that day, but a great deal was said about His many teachings on Tuesday. What people do not always realize is that it was in this context and at this time that Jesus taught concerning "the first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:38).

This teaching is found in Matthew 22:34-40: "But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, '"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'"

Jesus quoted Moses twice: Deuteronomy 6:5 for "the great commandment" and Leviticus 19:18 for "the second" commandment that "is like it." In the greater context in Deuteronomy 6, Moses instructed the people to let the words he commanded them, that is, the word of God, "be in your heart" (v. 6). If you truly love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength, God’s word will dwell inside of you. You will study it, learn it, memorize it, and live by it. Your whole life will be governed by God’s word. Everything you do and say will be guided by God’s word.

Moses went on to tell God’s people that if they truly love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength, they will "diligently" teach God’s word to their children and to all who will listen. He says they are to talk of God’s word "when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (v. 7). If you truly love the Lord you will talk of Him and His word wherever you are, anytime of day. You will seek His guidance in all that you do, and you will speak openly and freely of Jesus with all you come in contact with.

After commanding us to love God above all else and with all we are, He quickly applies that truth to loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:39). In the context of Leviticus 19, Moses, "while telling the people to "not hate your brother in your heart" (v. 17), he added, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 18).

When referring to this commandment, Jesus said that this was one of only two commandments that, if kept, would fulfill all of the Law (Matt. 22:40). In Luke 10:27, where a lawyer recites these same two commandments in answer to the question of how to inherit eternal life, Jesus commends him for answering correctly and tells him, "Do this and you will live" (v. 28).

So eternal life depends on the fulfillment of these two commandments in your life. If you want to spend eternity in heaven and you want to live a truly full life now, you must first love the Lord Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then you must love your neighbor as yourself. The first involves a change of heart, an inward change that comes through faith. The second involves a change in action, an outward change that is the result of that faith.

When you trust in Jesus for your salvation, He changes you. Everything about you begins to change. Not only does what you believe change, but how you live your life changes. That is the power of the gospel.

That change involves how you treat others. You begin to truly love your neighbor. You begin to reach out to your neighbor. Jesus goes on to explain that your neighbor is anyone in need that you come in contact with. So you begin to help others with whatever need they have. That is how you love your neighbor, and that is the outward change in your life that results from your faith in Christ. It is that outward change that proves you are a child of God. Amen.