The Two Ultimate Questions, Part 2

Today from Chuck Swindoll. The Bible is just to lift you out of turn your attention toward the only one who is worthy of ultimate love and adoration and worship and what gets in place and begins to take shape.

It's amazing what it does to our relationship with others and we find it is easier to love others. When we love God is described here. Love the Lord love if you could sit down with Jesus face to face and ask him her deepest most nursing questions would you ask. Well, this moment came to the Pharisees and regrettably they failed to ask something pertinent and chose instead to try to trick Jesus. They were curious. They were malicious today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll helps us understand the context of this altercation and the eventual outcome of their exchange. Jesus transformed the moment to command a spiritual decision. Looking at Matthew 22 Chuck titled his message to ultimate questions because we love you and are learning to love you more as we grow deeper in our understanding of who you are and how you work in our lives.

Watch over the many who travel through this summer and and protect them give guidance. We pray as we continue to walk with you as we take your word seriously as we give ourselves to you refreshing when you each morning remembering that your mercies are new every dollar. These are your gifts and we give them with gratitude in the name of Christ. See everyone sit to study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll sure to download his searching the Scriptures.

Studies by going to inside world.org/studies and now the message from Chuck that he titled the two ultimate questions when the Pharisees heard that he had the side you see they bring our leading lawyer up to the front, we read of him as the expert in religious law. Verse 35 Kim was the greatest commandment. Thinking and hoping that he will name one of his commands from his own system of teaching knowing that there is no greater command than the one Moses left therein for real surprise.

They say to him what is the most important commandment in the law of Moses without hesitation and with no copy of the Scripture in hand. Jesus responds from memory with the words found in Deuteronomy 6439 listen, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul all your strength and you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commandments that I'm giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children.

Talk about them when you're at home when you're on the road when you're going to bed and when you are getting up, tie them to your hands and wear them on your forward as reminders write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates.

Love God with all your heart, all of your soul all in your mind.

This is the first and great commandment in the second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire wall and all of the demands of the prophets are based on these two commit while. How's that for an answer to good time for me to warn you about our culture it's disintegrating you notice that your children don't know that so they'll get caught up in it.

Unless you as an adult help them know that is veering in the wrong direction. Just as a garden will rule on its own move toward weeds so our culture will move away from truth and move into error and before long you'll hear it coming from those who lead estate or lead a country club and urge you to read and I mentioned in earlier but I want to say it again specially to you who are parents we write it down this time. The vanishing American adult you need to read that book then suss essay SSE is written it it really make you think it will help you understand why adolescence is prolonged into the 30s and 40s. It will explain why we who are adults are often shocked that those who were younger coming along.

Don't feel the need to be responsible as we did when we were younger was a reason it's all part of the culture that is on a long drift. The Bible's message is to lift you out of us and to turn your attention toward the only one who is worthy of ultimate love and adoration and worship. And once that gets in place and begins to take shape. It's amazing what it does to our relationship with others and we find it is easier to love others. When we love God, as is described here. What a great answer love the Lord love others know Jesus as their attention was a while. I like it that little blank spaces appear in my Bible. I like to think that that's a pause for everybody's sitting staring or standing and listening and that's such a case. So Jesus we read in verse 41, surrounded by the Pharisees who for an unusual moment of quiet and he asked the question what you think about the Messiah, whose son is he what you think of Jesus Christ's or as he puts it here doesn't identify himself what you think about Jesus or Messiah. John Chrysostom commenting on this question wrote the Jesus is not quietly leading them to the point of confessing that he is God, but he leads them ever so carefully what salary does with questions what you think of them of the Messiah who son is look at the quick reply was a son of David. They knew the genealogy.

Jesus falls in the lineage of David. That's true. But is that a complete answer is, is that all that should be said, so he probes further they say he's the son of David.

So Jesus responded with a question they wouldn't answer.

So he says them he's the son of David, put your thinking cap on. Why does David speaking under the inspiration of the spirit called the Messiah, Lord, for David said any quotes from Psalm 110 verse one the Lord said to my Lord, sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humbled your enemies beneath your feet.

Please observe how he does this he sets them up by saying let's go to David's word so you can requote David wrote that song and he speaking under the inspiration of the spirit, so this is God's word spoken through David R.

Written by David and he calls Messiah, my Lord, not my son so the Lord said to my Lord, sit in the place of honor in my right hand. To paraphrase that so you get a little quicker. God the father said to God the son. Soon, the place of honor in my right hand until I humbled your enemies beneath your feet. Now the clincher listen to Jesus words since David called the Messiah, my Lord, how can the Messiah be his son. I love moments like this. I just want to bounce drop open your good question. Jesus was really referring to himself course in the mud Pharisees otherwise allowed to prove that is not Messiah Jesus is look at this if the works that I do are the works of Messiah. If the words that I say are the words of Messiah. It my origin is the origin of Messiah.

Obviously, I am Messiah and remember the song one timbers one.

The father said to the sun sit at my honor the place of honor, my right hand until I humbled humbled your enemies beneath your feet on the way, do you know when that occurred get this Jesus on earth is arrested, placed on trial there all illegal. He's declared guilty not proven guilty. He's nailed to a cross and he dies for the sins of the world. He's taken down from the cross and is buried here. His resurrected from the dead, and is on earth for a brief period of time and then he S7 and takes his place at the right hand of God the father. It's called the doctrine of session. The doctrine of ascension is followed by the doctrine of session he is seated at the father's right hand.

That's where he is right now invisible for the only member of the Trinity who is visible where little theology to help straighten all of this out in your mind, but this is not yet happened. Jesus is quoting from Psalm that is prophetic and messianic but is referring to himself and he saying in effect, the son of God, the son of a David yes but more than that. He is the son of God, that could answer that will do all of the words of one man here then Jesus makes his great 20 there would be few that day who caught anything. Like all Jesus met but when Jesus spoke these words even the densest of them felt a shiver in the presence of the eternal mystery which love those words they felt a shiver in the presence of eternal mystery they had the auger and the uncomfortable feeling that they heard the voice of God or moment in this man Jesus they glimpsed God's very face every Christmas I look forward to a particular song, not one of the familiar carols that we son through the centuries, but the song Mary did you know many of us would say it's probably among our favorite of the Christmas songs… It's a it's a imaginary account of Mary with her son and she's being asked of the great questions. Mary did you know that the one who redeems all of us will one day redeem you. Mary did you know that when you touch the face of your baby. You touch the face of God and it is with a great crescendo that he is the great I am and will want to come out of our seats at that point that song in now. I saved all of this for this moment to tell you that this is the place where no other word fits but also I said I know I warned you about overusing that worry everything is also merited 15 times this week from all every car salesman you know people are doing insurance people are saying. The roof is awesome all brother and all of this is awesome God is awesome and in this moment Jesus is awesome.

But you know what it says.

No one could answer them. And after that no one dared ask him any more questions. Why because they wouldn't allow the truth to sink in.

They would rather follow the dictates of their carnal lives and to surrender their souls to the only one who could transform them from darkness to light, so they kept her mouth shut. They let it hang. I'm not true until I asked what are your questions what are yours. How about this question. How can I have lived all this time and never realize the importance of Jesus Christ's Sunday morning happens I get up, shower, dress, eat a quick breakfast, come see friends take a seat, sing songs that are familiar but I don't know Jesus. I participate in religious activities but I don't.

Jesus love God with my whole heart my soul. Why, why don't you take to for you to realize the importance of Jesus. Now that this is begun to make sense to you. What's keeping you from giving him your life in a manner service that are not met before from another city say to me, it was back in the early 80s you were on the radio and I listened and I heard enough to know that I don't know Jesus and I gave my life to Christ, nothing throws me like a story that is like that really begins like that following my telling got in our first morning service I three different people tell me something similar. Their story is different, but when they heard of what Jesus can mean they realized the question is why don't I trust in now.

Why don't you what is it going to take now rushed to a place that you like me not to go is going to take a stroke. He's going to take some dread disease some sudden loss that pushes you to the wall and you realize I can handle this. Why not now what we do.

One of Jesus closest followers named John John was among the disciples, one of the faithful 11 and he was on earth when Jesus died, he was standing by Jesus mother as they witnessed the crucifixion can imagine that awful moment.

John had a place in his heart and home for Jesus mother after Jesus died in later was ascended and seated and was gone from your John went on with his faith life of faith. The change from a life of sight walking with Christ to a life of faith and hate me. Like I said in that room at 1959. He even know what the future held. All he knew was he loved Jesus with his whole heart and soul. He began to serve Jesus by faith, remembering how much it meant to them and get this you know is going to be a writer but God used them to write a story of Jesus called the gospel of John. That's that man and before John died, he wrote three small letters first, second and third letters of John and while he is exiled on the island of Patmos writes the revelation of Jesus Christ. This profound book of prophecy that opens the veil of eternity future Mrs. John. This simple man who write simple Greek, but with a heart of love for Jesus.

All of that became a part of the New Testament think of that I want to close my messy today by quoting for you a couple of lines from John's first letter, and this is what God has testified he has given us eternal life in this life. If this is in his son. He who has the son has the life. He who does not have the son of God does not have the life that's is clear a presentation of the truth as you can find all the Bible you have the sun you have the life you have the son of God in your life you have eternal life.

The life of God in your life.

How would you want to leave in that condition I would you want to live with at risk possibility dying without Jesus.

If you're not absolutely certain that you have the life make certain now let's bow our heads just sit right there. He who has the son has the life. Whoever does not have the son of God does not have a life crucial question. What is it going to take for you to have the son of God in your life. This is your moment.

Trust in Jesus. Now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be rescued to be secure and safe throughout life and beyond death, you can't beat that we can help you in this decision. We want to do that.

That is why we exist.

Simple prayer Lord I I'm I'm just lost I'm religious but I'm lost. I go through the motions of religion, but I don't know Jesus right now like knowledge on the center and were distant from each other but I thank you for the cross and as I come to you cross the cross.

I come by faith, and I trust in your son Jesus, thank you for coming into my life. That's it.

He who has the son has the life we have our wonderful friends who work with those who were seeking this decision and how to do it and they just need help there there for you today. Come today.

Thank you father for giving us, giving us your life and thank you for providing us with a model like Jesus to follow. Thank you for your patience.

Over these years and I pray on behalf of my friends who hear these words never trusted in Christ. They may cross trust him now today right now, they might know eternal life. The rest of the days and throughout eternity. Deciphering Jesus everyone's amen amen. Matthew chapter 22 records this epic standoff between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day and in the end Jesus brings his listeners to a crossroad of decision. He said what do you think about the Messiah and whose son is he your listening to Insight for living in the Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll to learn more about Chuck and this ministry.

Please visit us online@insideworld.org.

Well it's possible these two questions from Matthew 22 have brought you to a critical moment of decision as well.

Nothing is more important than recognizing and receiving Jesus as Lord, and if you have made a decision to trust Christ as your Lord and Savior.

For the first time today or you simply made a decision to pursue Christ in new and meaningful ways. We like to point you to a free resource that will guide you Insight for living produces a daily devotional that sent by email. Chuck's practical writings cover a variety of everyday issues that will help you merge biblical truth with the realities of your life to receive the free devotional email from Chuck. Just follow the instructions@insight.org/devotional over and over in Scripture we see that our God is just, he's fair and he's compassionate and yet nothing stirs his wrath like injustice in light of growing tension in her culture over fairness. Chuck is highly recommended a new book from a fellow pastor Bodie Baucom has written a thought-provoking book called faultlines that helps Christians understand the nuances of the social justice movement. You can purchase a copy right now by going to Insight.4/and let me add that when you give a donation to Insight for living your gift empowers us to provide Chuck's Bible teaching on radio and contribute right now there's a number to call you listening in the United States dial 800-772-8880 or give a donation online insight. You've heard him teach about the holy land using word pictures to make us feel like we are actually strolling through the old city learning about Jerusalem is fascinating for sure but see the land of Israel with your own his his life changed. In fact, is absolutely magnificent. And now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll and the gracious hosts and experts assembled by Insight for living ministries. Join us on an unforgettable 12 day tour March 6-17, 2022 at special sites along the way, I will teach from God's word will worship at the Mount of Beatitudes and share the Lord's table at the garden to infect Lucille the sea of Galilee together and will visit places where Jesus walked and talked to learn more or call 1-888-447-0444. Just imagine walking along the sacred sites and seeing the Bible, but come to life before your very mark your calendar for March 6-17, 2022 and make your reservation by calling 1-888-447-0444 or go to insight.org/events insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. And now for my friend Dave Speicher. I'm Wayne Sheppard inviting you to join us again tomorrow to hear the Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll on Insight for living. The preceding message to ultimate questions was copyrighted in 2017 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights reserved worldwide.

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