Steadfast Love

Matthew 22:34-46

Axiomatic is the word of the day.  The definition of this adjective is self-evident or unquestionable, and that is exactly what the Pharisees thought of Jesus’ question, “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?”  They answered without much thought, David’s.  Not unlike when the preacher asks a question of children, they answer Jesus and/or God before even thinking.  The Pharisees and most other Jews of Jesus’ time were waiting for this “Son of David,” the Messiah.  So Jesus gets them thinking by quoting a Psalm.  Some scholars believe it was considered a Messianic Psalm at that time, and others did not, but what is clear is those that follow Jesus does, for it is referenced directly and indirectly thirty-seven times in the New Testament, and even made it into the Apostle’s Creed.  So Jesus asked how can David be the father if he wrote:

Of David. A Psalm.
The Lord says to my lord,
   ‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.’ (Psalm 110:1)

Jesus is not denying the statement “Son of David,” as throughout Matthew who reports this scene, uses the term “Son of David” for the Messiah, for Jesus.  However, when Jesus is Baptized, Matthew reports,

And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:17)

When Jesus foreshadows His glory at the top of the mountain, transfigured, Matthew reports,

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved;with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ (Mathew 17:5)

We know Jesus called the Creator Abba.  It is clear that the Messiah’s father is Our Father who art in Heaven.  David through the lineage of Joseph is His step-father.  Jesus the Messiah, the anointed one, is not a warrior for the Kingdom of Chosen people rather the Lord of the entire world.  Who will not go to battle will rather, will be given victory by God.  Jesus goes to the cross and God provides the victory in the resurrection over the enemies of death and sin.  The Pharisees answered oh so quickly that the Anointed One, the Christ, is a David, and Jesus says basically be careful of thinking that question is axiomatic.

Now they had earlier asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, and He answered with the Shema, which would be the axiomatic answer to that question even today.  I imagine that others mouthed the words of His response along with Jesus nodding their heads. However, he also shared Leviticus 19:18:

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Jesus actually says that this second commandment He shares is “like” or better still the same as the first.  Jesus knows the Shema is the axiomatic answer to that question posed, but this other commandment demonstrates how the one on the door posts truly works.  He is telling them to love, and in Greek the word is agape.  Nothing truly special about that word, other then it does not refer to romantic and/or lustful love.  However, when the Messiah Himself, asks you to Love God (Love Him) and that is Like (or the same) as Loving your neighbor, one most realize that the Law or any commandment of God most not be considered axiomatic.  Just as the Shema as the greatest commandment is given greater meaning by Jesus saying it is like Leviticus 19:18, we as Christians most look at Love our neighbor as ourselves more carefully.  Most of us will mouth the two commandments Jesus shares when we read this scripture.  You will hear Christians say love your neighbor as yourself. 

When we Christians say “Love thy neighbor as yourself,” are we truly getting the point.  We probably find the statement axiomatic.  Thus I want to look at it closely, and remind you that the incarnate God-Man, Jesus, says this.  We know we are to love Jesus with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our might and Jesus says that is done also by following the commandment about the neighbor.  Incarnate Jesus, Emmanuel, says this an thus He had neighbors himself.  So how would God love?  The word agape is great because it demonstrated love that is not red hearts and romance.  Hesed is the word for God’s Love and or the love of charity and kindness in Hebrew.  This word is better translated in English as convental love, but to our ears that sounds legalistic.  Remember that the covenant was the promise by God to protect and lead the Hebrew people and thus they followed the Law in response to this great love.  A love they did not necessarily do anything to earn, but respond in kind.  Or we may call it steadfast love.  Love that is perfect such is our heavenly father, “…for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45b) 

We need to look at our neighbors with the love Jesus, Himself, told us He wants for him for all other people.  Steadfast Love; GRACE is axiomatic, that is it is the unquestionable answer, but we must find the answer as we strive toward loving as God loves, loving God.