How does John 5:42 connect with the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37? Setting the Scene • John 5 finds Jesus addressing leaders who search Scripture yet miss its Author (John 5:39). • Matthew 22 places Him in dialogue with another group of leaders who want the “greatest” command. • Together, these two moments reveal one central issue: real love for God. Key Verses • “But I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.” – John 5:42 • “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ” – Matthew 22:37 Connecting the Dots • Matthew 22:37 states the positive: wholehearted love for God is the supreme command. • John 5:42 states the negative: lack of that love exposes spiritual blindness. • Same Teacher, same standard—one text affirms the goal, the other diagnoses failure. Love Defined by Scripture 1. Total allegiance – heart, soul, mind (Matthew 22:37; Deuteronomy 6:5). 2. Obedience – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). 3. Delighting in His truth – “His delight is in the law of the LORD.” (Psalm 1:2). 4. Manifested action – “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” (1 John 5:3). Why Jesus Exposes Lack of Love (John 5) • They studied Scripture academically, not devotionally (John 5:39–40). • They sought human glory, not God’s approval (John 5:44). • They rejected the One whom Moses wrote about (John 5:46–47). Result: no genuine love for God, therefore no fulfillment of the greatest commandment. Old Testament Echoes • Deuteronomy 6:4–6 (Shema) called Israel to love God first. • Isaiah 29:13 warned of lips that honor God while hearts are far away. John 5:42 shows that same prophecy still playing out; Matthew 22:37 reasserts the original command. Practical Takeaways • Scripture study must lead to affection for Christ, not merely information. • Motives matter: pursuing God’s glory safeguards genuine love (1 Corinthians 10:31). • Obedience and love are inseparable—love energizes obedience; obedience evidences love. • Self-examination: do my pursuits, words, and priorities reveal the love commanded in Matthew 22:37, or the absence exposed in John 5:42? Summary Statement John 5:42 reveals what happens when the greatest commandment of Matthew 22:37 is ignored—religious activity without authentic love. Real discipleship flows from the heart that treasures God above all. |
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