I’ve been contemplating three things Jesus said in the book of Matthew and how they may connect.
Matthew 9:36
36 And what pity he felt for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help.
I picture Jesus walking into any crowded area today. No doubt he would have compassion for the crowds “because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help”. Abuse, betrayal, death, depression, divorce, no love, no purpose, unemployment—the list goes on.
Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
How can the second commandment about loving our neighbor be “equally important”? Other translations say the second commandment is “like the first.” Could the connection be that it is through loving our neighbor that we love God?
Matthew 25:44-45
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’”
How easy it is for me to live my life ignoring the hurts and problems of all those around me. I can attend church and read my Bible, and then check loving God off my to-do list while completely missing the heart of Jesus. How many times have I ignored the practical, emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and financial needs of others? I think of my own problems and I talk to God about all my issues while ignoring the people that Jesus clearly is calling me to love.
Jesus, forgive me for not loving my neighbor. I pray to the Lord of the harvest and ask you to align my heart with yours so that I may love the refugee, the prisoner, the foreigner, the orphan, the widow, the poor, the downtrodden, the neglected, and the ignored. Teach me what it means to love my neighbor and, in turn, teach me what it means to love you.