October 25, 2026The Pharisees, again, put Jesus to the test using a scholar of the law. The scholar asked Jesus, “which commandment in the law is the greatest?" In Mosaic Law there are 631 precepts. 248 affirmative commands and 365 negative prohibitions. Jesus cleverly links two of the precepts with the phrase “the second is like it”. Jesus sums up the Law using two Scripture passages: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18b. Love of God and love neighbor is all that is required.
There is irony in this interaction between Jesus and the scholar of the law. Jesus passed the test, the scholar stated to Jesus you have answered correctly. However, the scholar failed horribly in putting the answer into practice. The scholar’s goal of the interaction was to trip Jesus up. There was malice in his heart, not love. He might not have recognized Jesus as God, but he should have recognized him as his neighbor. From time to time, we may be put to the test. May we do better than the scholar of the law.
Pax et Bonum,
