God, Neighbor & the Bible
Ways to Engage
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What: Memorize Matthew 22:34-40 and recite it to yourself throughout the next few weeks.
Why: As you continue to read scripture, these memorized verses can serve as a reminder to read the Bible through the framework of loving God and others.
What: Define the following terms:
Pharisee
Sadducee
Law
Prophets
Why: Reminding yourself of the cultural and religious context of the God & Neighbor passage will help bring the story into fuller color. In this way, you’ll understand it better, and it will pack more of a punch.
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How could Matthew 22:34-40 impact the way you read the Bible? How does it compare to how you interpret the Bible now?
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Read the following passages and apply the Greatest Commandment as a lens: how do each of those passages address loving God and/or loving your neighbor?
Exodus 20:1-17
Isaiah 1
Matthew 6:1-18
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Read the story of the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), focusing on verses 25-27 and 32. What are the similarities and differences between The Greatest Commandment and the realization of the disciples on the road?
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A hermeneutic is the method of interpreting the Bible. Some even call it the science and art of interpreting the Bible.
What are the pros and cons of utilizing Matthew 22:34-40 as a sole hermeneutic? When would employing the Greatest Commandment hermeneutic serve you well, and when would you need other interpretive methods?
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Read Genesis 1-3 this week with the Greatest Commandment as a hermeneutic (method of interpretation).
What does the text teach you about loving God?
What does the text teach you about loving others?
As you read, do you tend to need or desire any other hermeneutical supports?
*Alli’s Notes: I enjoy reading Genesis 1-3 on repeat throughout the year, especially while reading other books of the Bible. These first 3 chapters of the Bible set the trajectory for the rest of the story and provide the backdrop for why we need Jesus in the first place. Even with all of the interpretive complexities of these chapters, grasping a fundamental understanding of loving God and neighbor in the beginning pages of the book helps clarify the rest of the Bible.
