This post is Day 21 in a series of studies about “Commandments”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Commandments – Day 21

The version of this story in Matthew gives us no response from the Pharisee after Jesus answered the question which the teacher of the law had come to ask. But Mark wanted us to know the Pharisee had truly understood what Jesus meant. This gospel writer gave us his response.

Mark 12:32-33

Well said teacher, the man replied. You are right in saying that God is One and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

The Thought

This is probably the same story as yesterday, but is it? Matthew’s version gives us no response from the Pharisee after Jesus answered the question which the teacher of the law had come to ask. But Mark wanted us to know that the Pharisee had truly understood what Jesus was meaning, and this gospel writer gave us the Pharisee’s response.

The first phrase of these verses makes me smile. I imagine the Pharisee almost giving Jesus a pat on the back as though he was the teacher encouraging a student and saying “well done, you are on the right track, keep up the good work!”

In Luke 10:26-37 we have another version of this same question. But we have a much more detailed illustration from Jesus. The expert in the law wanted to know more and pushed Jesus a bit further asking Him who is my neighbour? That is when Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan. A story which can be a challenge to us all.

Action

Read Luke 10:25-37 today and ask yourself how you would react if you were in similar circumstances. Would you react as the priest and the Levite, who both passed by on the other side of the road? Or would you react as did the Samaritan?

In many parts of the world there are beggars on street corners. Dare to react to the next one you come across, with a word of encouragement or a prayer as well as a few coins in their hand.

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