What
is the greatest commandment? This
question and the questioner were unlike the preceding two encountered by Jesus. While the two former questions were offered
for the purpose of trapping Jesus this was different. He was coming to and listening to the debates,
which may indicate that he was not one of the conspirators. His question does not have a trap set in
it. Perhaps we have an honest heart
honestly seeking, knocking and asking.
When he hears the answer he agrees with Jesus.
Then
comes a surprise. Jesus responds to his
agreement by passing a judgment. The
correct answer meant that he was close to knowing the Kingdom. Suddenly the tables are completely
turned. The questioners came to attempt
to trap Jesus by seeing if they could get Him in a non-orthodox or rebellious
answer. Jesus now asserts that their
answers to Him and their acceptance of His word indicate their closeness to or
distance from the Kingdom of Heaven. We
can never judge Jesus to see if He fits our expectations and us. Rather Jesus, both as the Judge and the
standard of judgment, judges everything.
Our response to Him is the measure of all judgment.
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