TODAY’S WORD: The Greatest Commandments: Marriage and Matthew 22:34-46

HIGH FIVE!

The text “MATTHEW 22:34-46” appears to be a Bible reference overlaid on what looks like a wedding photo. This passage from the Gospel of Matthew is about two important teachings:

1. In this passage, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment in the law, to which He responds with what are known as the two greatest commandments:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind
• Love your neighbor as yourself

2. The passage also includes Jesus’s discussion with the Pharisees about the nature of the Messiah.

The placement of this Bible reference on what appears to be a wedding photo is likely meaningful, as love – both divine and interpersonal – is a central theme of this passage. The setting shows what appears to be a scenic waterfront wedding ceremony with mountains in the background, decorated with tall candles or lights along a dock or pier. The person in the image is wearing a flowing white wedding dress. The combination of the scripture reference with this wedding scene suggests a connection between the biblical teachings about love and the celebration of marriage.

Would you like me to elaborate on the specific content of this Biblical passage or its relevance to weddings?

PLEASE TELL ME MORE ABOUT MATTHEW 22:34-46

Let me break down Matthew 22:34-46, which contains two significant exchanges:

1. The Greatest Commandment (verses 34-40):

• The Pharisees tested Jesus by asking Him which commandment was the greatest
• Jesus responded with two interconnected commandments:
  • “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (citing Deuteronomy 6:5)
  • “Love your neighbor as yourself” (citing Leviticus 19:18)
• Jesus declared that “all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” – meaning these two principles summarize all biblical teaching

2. The Question About the Messiah (verses 41-46):

• Jesus then posed a question to the Pharisees about the Messiah
• He asked them whose son the Messiah would be
• They answered “The son of David”
• Jesus then quoted Psalm 110:1 where David calls the Messiah ‘Lord’
• This created a paradox: How could the Messiah be both David’s son and David’s Lord?
• This question demonstrated Jesus’s divine nature – He was both David’s descendant (human) and David’s Lord (divine)
• The passage ends noting that from that day, no one dared ask Him any more questions

The placement of this reference on a wedding photo is particularly meaningful because it centers on love – both vertical (love for God) and horizontal (love for others). These principles form the foundation for Christian marriage, where couples are called to love both God and each other sacrificially and completely.

(THANKS)