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Explanation for:
Matthew
22
:
36
Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"They understood that the foremost commandment was, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God;’ yet they anticipated that the Savior would amend it by proclaiming Himself as God, thereby providing them a reason to condemn Him, which prompted them to pose that particular question."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"A certain teacher of the law poses a question, not from a genuine thirst for knowledge, but rather to challenge whether the one being questioned understands what is required of Him. Specifically, he inquires about the greatest commandment, not concerning commandments in general, but focusing on what is the foremost and most significant commandment. His intent is to create an opportunity for slander, since all that God commands holds great importance; thus, regardless of the response given, he would identify something else as great among the many commandments. Consequently, the individual who poses the question without true intent to learn, but instead seeks to determine if the responder possesses understanding, mirrors the approach of the Pharisees. He does not come forth as a seeker of wisdom, but rather as a tester of faith."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Given that the foremost commandment is to love the Lord your God, they anticipated that Christ would make an addition about Himself, perhaps declaring Himself as God, which could serve as grounds for accusing Him of blasphemy and providing them with a fresh reason for condemnation."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"This was prompted by the assertion that certain Jews viewed the command to educate as paramount, while others prioritized the Sabbath, and some held different commandments in high regard. The lawgiver sought to challenge Jesus Christ, aiming to discern whether He adhered to these divine commandments or if He proclaimed others from Himself. Should He designate the commandment \\"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God\\" as the foremost, would He not also need to include the directive to \\"love me\\"? However, the astute and insightful Jesus provided an answer so profound that it compelled the questioner to commend His response, acknowledging, \\"Well said, Teacher, indeed you have spoken\\" (Mark 12:32)."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"TEACHER. What is the most important commandment in the Law, the foremost commandment? The Pharisees categorized the commandments into those that were greater and lesser; by greater commandments, they referred to all the ceremonial laws established by Moses, while the lesser ones pertained to guidelines for righteous living. However, they were divided on which commandment held the highest importance: some favored the Sabbath command, others prioritized the law of circumcision, and still others focused on the command regarding purification. This question was significant to them, as they sought to determine which commandment could be overlooked when fulfilling both was impossible. They failed to grasp that the true essence of the Law lies in obedience to God. Hence, even if one observes all commandments but willfully transgresses one, he is accountable for all. For this reason, the Pharisees, particularly those among them known as legal experts, interpreters, and teachers of the Law, chose to confront Jesus Christ with this question—not out of a desire to learn but in hopes that He would amend God’s commandment, thereby revealing Himself as God and giving them grounds to accuse Him of blasphemy, as noted by St. John Chrysostom. The Lord perceived the motives of the questioners and recognized their complete disregard for love, which is the heart of all commandments. He understood that their hearts were withering from malice and envy, and thus He pointedly reminded them of what they had overlooked."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What is the foremost commandment in the law? The Jewish scholars made distinctions between commandments of varying significance (see note on Matthew 5:19), yet a consensus on which was the supreme commandment was elusive, leading to numerous discussions within their academies. Some held the commandment concerning sacrifices as the highest, while others prioritized the commandments of circumcision, purification, and more. It is possible that the Pharisees recognized that the essential commandment is: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; however, they anticipated that the Savior would amend it by proclaiming Himself as God, thus providing them with grounds for accusation, which prompted them to pose this inquiry."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In response to the lawyer’s inquiry regarding the greatest commandment, the Pharisees reconvened in the temple, aiming to present what they deemed the most challenging question about the commandments of the law. They had categorized the commandments into major and minor ones, viewing the ceremonial laws as significant, while relegating the others to a lesser status. However, a consensus eluded them concerning which of the major commandments held the highest importance: some argued that the Sabbath commandment was the foremost, while others maintained that the law of circumcision held that place. Thus, they selected their most astute lawyer to approach Jesus with the question: Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the law?"},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Pharisees, pleased by the downfall of their rivals, sought to challenge Him once more with an inquiry. One of them, an expert in the law, addressed Him, “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the law?” This question implied a degree of acknowledgment of His teaching authority, indicating that the lawyer was genuinely seeking guidance on the matter that troubled him. Lawyers frequently engaged in debates regarding which commandment held the highest significance, reflecting the essence of righteousness. Traditionally, this query became mired in an endless web of futile distinctions, such as categorizing commandments into categories of weighty and light, primary and secondary, deductive and supplementary, and similar classifications."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon hearing that the Lord had effectively silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees gathered together, seizing the moment to recover from the embarrassment they had faced among the populace, while also demonstrating their superiority over their despised rivals. To achieve this, they appointed one of their own, a seasoned expert in the law, to approach Jesus Christ once more with the intent of ensnaring Him in what they deemed a perplexing inquiry. This scribe, who seemed not to fully align with the malicious designs of his colleagues, became even more eager to fulfill their request, having been impressed by the Lord's response to the Sadducees. The question he posed was a prevalent matter of debate among the Pharisees, who were deeply entrenched in the ceremonial aspects of the law, yet remained uncertain as to which commandment held the highest and greatest significance. They categorized commandments into major and minor ones, with some prioritizing the Sabbath commandment, others the circumcision, and yet others emphasizing sacrifices and purifications, while only a few recognized the paramount moral commandment focused on love for God and neighbor (Luke 10:27). It is possible that the Pharisees suspected that the Divine Teacher would favor the latter commandment, anticipating whether He might alter it in some manner or even imply His divinity (St. John Chrysostom). Were this to occur, their trap would have succeeded. The lawyer approached the Lord and inquired, “Teacher, which is the first of all the commandments and the greatest in the law?”"},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The distinction between the accounts of Matthew and Mark lies in the portrayal of the lawyer who questioned Christ. In Matthew's Gospel, this lawyer serves as a tool of the Pharisees, attempting to ensnare Jesus with his inquiry. Conversely, in Mark, the lawyer approaches Christ after recognizing His adept response to the Sadducees regarding the resurrection, and upon replying to Jesus, he receives acknowledgment from Him about being close to the kingdom of God. Clearly, the emphasis differs between the Evangelists; Matthew highlights the implications of the lawyer's question for the Pharisaic faction, along with the mindset and intentions of its members, while Mark focuses on the personal attributes of the questioner and the impact that Christ's reply had on him.\\n\\nWhat was the intention of the Pharisees in trying to test the Lord? It seems unlikely they anticipated any answer other than the one He provided. To explore this, we can examine that after responding to the lawyer, Jesus poses a question to the Pharisees, illustrating to them that the Messiah is not solely David's descendant, as they believed, but also the Son of God. This leads us to believe that the Pharisees recalled Jesus’ own declarations about Himself as the Son of God, which they perceived as blasphemous, since they held firmly to the belief in one God (John 10:33). They likely expected that Christ’s response to the inquiry about the most significant commandment would be one that emphasized faith and self-love (John 6:28-29), as befitting the Son of God. Had He answered in that way, the Pharisees would have branded Him a blasphemer and a violator of the law in front of the crowd.\\n\\nHowever, Jesus first affirms the unity of God (Mark), then calls for love towards God as the foundation and essence of the entire moral law, coupled with love for one’s neighbor as an essential result of that love for God (see 1 John 4:20-21)."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As the Lord resisted these temptations, some well-intentioned individuals aligned themselves with Him. One of them, although not acknowledging Him as the Messiah but recognizing Him as a proclaimer of truth, posed a question, not merely to seek His insights but to express his agreement regarding a matter of significant moral value. “Teacher,” he inquired, “what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied, “It centers around two primary commandments: love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. The first is the foremost commandment, and the second is akin to it.” The scribe affirmed this, emphasizing that love surpasses all sacrifices. It was clear that this scribe grasped the essence of true piety. The Lord gently remarked to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” This remark did not imply that the man’s actions warranted entry into the kingdom of the Son of Man, but rather that by striving in such a manner, he was more likely to recognize the need for the Redeemer and thereby become part of His kingdom, to which all who are weary and burdened are invited."}]}
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