TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “ Matthew 22:37-39
Read: Matthew 22:35-40
Listen: Matthew 22
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Today we continue our 2022 Bible Memory Practice. So far, we’ve memorized verses that help us understand the power of God’s Word (Psalm 119:11), trust God’s promise to continue the work in us until Christ returns (Philippians 1:6), see how God desires to shape our character to be more like Jesus through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and God’s ability to take everything in life and use it for good (Romans 8:28). This month, we see that God desires us to love him with all we have and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Our memory verse comes from an exchange Jesus has with an expert in the Jewish Law. The expert wants to test Jesus and asks him a difficult question, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” However, Jesus is ready with Scripture as a response. He replies that the greatest commandment was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” But then he adds that the second greatest is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
It seems clear here and elsewhere that Jesus has internalized the Scriptures. He has a Scripture ready to fit each moment. This is just another reason Bible memorization is essential. What’s more, Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind. It’s hard to love God with all our heart, soul and mind but not know his Word. Jesus also says we are to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Together, these two greatest commandments give us a clear direction for our life: love God and love people.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Begin to memorize Matthew 22:37-39. One great way to remember a verse is to write out the verse on a card with blanks throughout. Then as you practice and get better—rewrite it with more and more blanks. Eventually, you will recite the whole passage without any original words as prompts.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
MATTHEW 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
