Fine Print: Worship Wholeheartedly — Tuesday
Matthew 22:35-36
One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” (NLT)
Have you ever wondered, “What’s the difference between knowledge of God and worship of God?”
I think this encounter between the Pharisees and Jesus in today’s verse illustrates it perfectly. As Scott talked about on Sunday, the context is important for us to understand all that’s going on here: This is Jesus’ final week. He has made His triumphal entry, He’s been preaching and teaching, and He’s drawing big crowds. The Pharisees don’t like that! They are upset (Matthew 21:45-46), so upset that they are plotting against him (22:15). That’s why when we get to today’s verse, not only do we get the question this Pharisee asked Jesus, but Matthew also gives us his motive.
Verse 35 says, “One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question.”
Tried to trap Jesus?!
Bold strategy, Cotton!
I doubt you or I would ever try to pull a fast one on Jesus, but have you ever tried to outsmart someone with a religious question? Have you ever tried to flex your Bible knowledge? Or make someone feel dumb because they didn’t have the right “Christian” answer?
Regretfully, I have. And afterward, I’m convicted of how unloving that truly is. This Pharisee thought he knew the Bible so well that he could make Jesus look bad. In his pursuit of knowledge of God, he missed God himself.
1 Corinthians 8:1 cautions us, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (CSB). That’s something I remind any Bible study group I lead. The pursuit of biblical knowledge is a good pursuit, one we need much more of—but don’t become an expert in the wrong thing. Don’t have all the right textbook answers yet neglect to love people.
So back to our question: “What’s the difference between knowledge of God and worship of God?”
The answer has everything to do with Jesus’ response to this Pharisee. Notice He didn’t say, “Learn as many facts about God as you can—this is the first and greatest commandment.” He didn’t say read as many books about God or win as many arguments about God as you can. Jesus urges us not to reduce our relationship with God to Bible trivia. Instead, He puts an unbreakable link between our love of God and our love of people. He makes the bold claim that our worship of God is demonstrated by loving our neighbor.
More on that tomorrow…
Tuesday’s Reflection
Are you pursuing facts and knowledge about God over actually worshiping Him? Do you ever feel like you know more biblical truth than you’re actually living out? Talk with God about that today.
