The teacher of the law in this encounter is happy with Jesus' response to his question about the greatest commandment. He goes on to affirm that loving God and loving your neighbour is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
The teacher of the law's reply to Jesus here is perhaps surprising at first glance. In
the Hebrew Bible, God commanded the Israelites to offer sacrifices to atone for their sins and express their devotion to God. The religious leader would have been well-versed in these practices, and as a devout Jew himself, he would value the importance of this practice. He could have easily argued if his intention was indeed to trap Jesus as on previous occasions. However, he agrees with Jesus that loving God and a neighbour is more important than offering burnt sacrifices to God.
Perhaps this teacher of the law knew that Jesus could have responded to the argument by quoting the prophet Isaiah's words that God gets no pleasure from burnt sacrifices while those making the offerings are living unrighteously and performing evil deeds (Isaiah 1).
This understanding gets to the heart of Jesus' teaching on the two greatest commandments and their
connection. Our ultimate devotion to God is not revealed in the burnt sacrifices we make or the worship services we host or attend but in how we express our devotion to God in the love of our neighbours.
The true essence of worship lies in loving relationships, not religious performances. While religious rituals and practices have their place, they are ultimately secondary to the primary commandment of love. By loving God and
neighbour, we fulfil the true purpose of worship and tangibly demonstrate our faith.
How do Jesus and Isaiah's words about love being more important than burnt sacrifices and religious rituals relate to your current context? What modern examples of “good" things have you placed above your love of God and neighbour?
Reflections by Rev Joe Taylor
