Matthew 22:38

 Matthew 22:38

This is the first and great commandment.

a. NASB 1995: “This is the great and foremost commandment. [NASB95 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]

b. NKJV: This is the first and great commandment. [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

c. Classic Amplified: This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: This is the greatest and the first commandment. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. ESV: This is the great and first commandment. [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1. “This is the first and great commandment.”

a. This [Strong: 3778 hoûtos, hoo'-tos; from the article G3588 and G846; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):—he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.]

b. is [Strong: 2076 estí, es-tee'; third person singular present indicative of G1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:—are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, × dure for a while, + follow, × have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, × must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

c. [the] first [Strong: 4413 prōtos, pro'-tos; contracted superlative of G4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):—before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former.]

d. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. great [Strong: 3173 mégas, meg'-as; (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη megálē, plural μεγάλοι megáloi, etc.; compare also G3176, G3187); big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application):—(+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, × to years.]

f. commandment [Strong: 1785 entolḗ, en-tol-ay'; from G1781; injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription:—commandment, precept.]

1). The enemies of Jesus were constantly trying to get him to say something that they could use against him. The whole chapter of Matthew 22 gives 3 examples, one right after another, of his enemies attempting it. But Jesus was led by the Spirit and gave inspired answers that confounded them all. Where did he get that wisdom? Was it because He was God in the flesh and Omniscient? No. When the Second Person of the Godhead became a servant in the form of a man, he emptied Himself of His Godlike abilities.

a). Philippians 2:6, 7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

b). Many translations write he emptied himself. Others say he laid aside his privileges. When Jesus became man he emptied himself or laid aside his God-like abilities, Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence. These are all attributes of God and Jesus laid them aside when He became the form of a servant, when He became man.

c). He was certainly not all-knowing, for the Scripture says that Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52). When Jesus cast out devils it was not because he was Omnipotent or all-powerful, it was because He did it through the Spirit (Matthew 12:28; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:16-19). 

2). In the passage cited above from Matthew where Jesus outsmarted his enemies, I personally believe that it was because He meditated in the word of God and was being led by the Holy Spirit.

a).  Psalm 119:97-101 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 

119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 

119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 

119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 

119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.