Bible Study Week 2 | Insights on Practicing Love

WEEK TWO – EXTENDED REFLECTION OF PASSAGE

Insights on Practicing Love: Matthew 22: 34-40 (NIV)

NOTE FOR GROUP LEADER: With the group, read or listen to the passage again and discuss any or all of the reflection questions. Items needed: Reading passage and questions.

Matthew 22: 34-40 (NIV)

 The Greatest Commandment

³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a^] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b^] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Questions for reflection and discussion:

1. What is love?
2. What does love look like?
3. Who is God for you that you should love Him?
4. What does Jesus mean when He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?”
5. What are some examples in the world that we need to love God more?
6. What are some examples that we love God? How do we behave that shows our love for God?
7. In your opinion, is it important to love God? Why? Why not? If so, how can we love God more in our present condition?
8. What does Jesus mean when He says, “Love your neighbor as yourself?”
9. What are some examples in the world that we love our neighbor?
10. What are some examples in the world that we need to love our neighbor more?
11. What are some examples in our own lives of how we love our neighbor? How do we behave that shows our love for our neighbor?
12. In your opinion, is it important to love your neighbor? Why? Why not? If so, how can you love your neighbor more in your present condition?
13. Jesus also says, “to love your neighbor as yourself.”
14. How can you love yourself? Why is it important to love yourself?
15. Jesus says, that everything “hangs” on these two commandments. Why? What difference does it make?

NOTE TO GROUP LEADER: At the end of the session, you may want to allow the group to have a few moments for open commentary and thoughts about the session and what it may have meant for them.