Lofty Love is to Love God and Others (Matthew 22:36-40)

Full quote below.

"Teacher, which is the greatest cpmmandment in the Law?" 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.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Mt 22:36-40).

Jesus' core teaching is that love for God and love for neighbor are the inseparable foundation of all Scripture (Mt 22:37-40).

1. Why do you think Jesus says that all the Law and the Prophets hang on both loving God and your neighbor (Mt 22:37-40; Dt 6:5; Lev 19:18; Gal 5:14; 1 Jn 4:8, 16)?
2. Why do you think Jesus says that loving our neighbor is like the first and greatest commandment of loving God (Mt 22:39; 1 Jn 3:17; 4:20-21)?
3. What does loving our neighbor entail as it pertains to our daily lives (1 Jn 3:18)? How do we put it into action (Jas 1:27; 2:15-16)?
4. Why is it difficult to love our neighbors? What prevents you from loving all your neighbors not just the ones we like (Prov 21:13; Mt 15:8; Lk 10:31-35)?
5. How can you extend the love to your neighbors that persecute you (Mt 5:44; Lk 23:34; Rom 12:14, 17-21)?
6. What can we do to help us love our neighbors (1 Jn 3:16; Phil 2:5-8; Rom 5:5; Gal 5:22-23)?
7. Do you love your neighbors humbly or out of obligation? How can you change if it’s out of obligation (Phil 2:3-4; 1 Cor 13:3)?

“Christian love, either towards God or towards man, is an affair of the will. If we are trying to do His will, we are obeying the commandment 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” C. S. Lewis.