God does not force us to do anything

Article for October 25, 2026

Matthew 22:34–36 34When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

There are those who feel they are better than others.  Many do not learn from history’s mistakes or learn from watching others fail.  Instead, we gather together emboldened by our ignorance and challenge the non-ignorant.  We change the name but don’t change the failed way in hopes that it will work this time.  The Pharisees watched the Sadducees fail to catch the Savior off guard, so why not try to show them up.  We take the Law of God and try to override it with the law of man.  The question remains, why can’t we learn from the past and the failed ways.

Matthew 22:37–40 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

      Yes, these are commands, love God and love your neighbor.  Yet these laws are not just Law, but Gospel too.  We know mankind cannot be commanded to love, maybe to fake love, but not to give true love.  Rather we love for various reasons, and the best love comes from the heart that appreciates the value of the one they love and realizes the love that comes from the one they love.

Unfortunately, most lust instead of love and that lust does not produce love in return.  Lust can be physical or it can be a lust of ownership.  Most of the time I believe lust leads to a need for ownership.  We do not own each other when we come together in marriage, live together, or by any other means.  Truthfully when we marry, we become one honoring each other, sharing with one another, and holding one another up in all situations.

      The Law that Jesus is talking about is to follow the Ten Commandments with the heart of the Gospel.  This is how we love God, this is how we love one another in its purest form.  Too many think the Law is just law.

Matthew 22:41–42 41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”

Another name for our Lord Jesus, “The Son of David.”  We know Jesus as, “The Son of God”, “The Son of Man”, and now “The Son of David”.  We know that David is not the Father of Jesus.  But David was one chosen by God to be king over His chosen people Israel.  From the shoot of the stump of Jesse comes David and from David in his lineage comes Jesus.

Jesus is a descendant of David.  Hebrew tradition would recognize the family lineage from David to Jesus.  David, being one chosen by God and to be a glimpse of the things to come would be an imperfect Christ-like leader of the Hebrew nation.  The tradition of the Hebrew understanding would claim that Jesus is in the family line of David therefore calling Jesus a Son of David would be common terminology. 

We know that David was not perfect as he lusted for a soldier’s wife and even plotted to have the soldier killed in battle.  But David proved to follow God and gain favor with God despite his sins.  This is the kindness of God that He forgives those who confess and repent of their sin. 

Jesus in the lineage of David, humbles Himself to be the son of David, but also is the Lord of David as David is the son of Jesse, and becomes the king over Jesse.  But Jesus is trying to explain this to the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and anyone else whose self-righteousness has blinded them.  Jesus whom they call the Son of David came as a humble servant and yet Lord of all.

Matthew 22:43–44 43He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44“‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’?

We must remember we do not have a God who lords over us like a dictator, but one who tries to earn our trust in His leadership.  Think about this, God does not force us to do anything, you can choose whatever path you see fit.  But God does tell us there is only one path that leads to Him and the only way you can stay on that path is to follow Jesus the Christ.

Following Jesus Christ is to follow God and though there is only one path to Him, God gives us three guiding helps through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and then gives us a book of instructions written down to show us the way, the truth, and the life, which we know as Jesus Christ.

Matthew 22:45–46 45If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

All they had to do was to believe what was in front of them, Jesus Christ.  When you look at the path of your life, do not look at it as something to be sorrowful about.  Look at your past path as something God used to help you find the one true path.  God has gotten you through a lot, but now believe, God is building your faith now that you know you are on the path of the gospel of salvation.

Jesus has already accomplished the hard work as He took the punishment for our sins.  He did it for all and you are in that all.  Jesus was resurrected for our benefit that we might see all things are possible with God.  Now you know, now you can believe, our risen Lord has saved us through the love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.