Matthew 22:36-37 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Can you love God with all your heart, soul and mind?

Early in life I was told that a mother’s love is the greatest love. My mother failed me. I was told that I would relate to God by my father’s love for me. My father failed me. It became apparent to me that my parents could not give anything more than what they had. It just wasn’t in them.

That thought rang true in my soul this morning when I realized the truth of the great command to love God with all of our being.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The only way any of us can love God with perfect love is if that perfect love abides in our hearts.

Matthew 22:36 asks about the Mosaic Law, the first commandment. Jesus explains the law in relevant terms that clarify what it means to have no gods before Yahweh.

Jesus brokered a new covenant, a new contract, which says: “You couldn’t love perfectly no matter how hard you tried, so I will do it for you.”

The OT is fully of examples of how man’s love for God failed. The NT is full of examples of how God’s perfect love has not failed us.

I’ve tried to love and failed. Even today when I try in my own strength I come up short. It is only by faith, grace and mercy that the abiding love of God shows.

John 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Acts 23:6-7 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

Have you ever cared so passionately about something to the point you have lost your self-control? The issue of the resurrection was never resolved between these two factions. The Pharisee were students of the law, the Sadducees were the social class. Both held enormous sway over the people but on this issue they could not agree.

Allow me to ask if there any out there who do not believe in the resurrection?

Do not ask me to prove there is a resurrection. Nothing I have to say is going to convince you any more than the Pharisee could the Sadducee. It is not going to happen. So let us address the issues of the Sadducee within the temple, their role and influences.

As I stated before the Sadducee were the social elite of the temple. What were they doing in the temple if they did not believe God could provide for life after death?

Sadducee, a member of the party of the Sadducees, who, distinguished for birth, wealth, and official position, and not averse to the favor of the Herod family and of the Romans, hated the common people, were the opponents of the Pharisees, and rejecting tradition. Source Thayer’s Greek Lexicon.

Strong’s definition lists them as followers of a certain heretical Israelite. Heretic is a very strong word and has caused divisions of religious groups.

The most distinguishing features of any modern day Sadducee would be in seeking favor from the government, breaking traditions, and hatred of the people.