1.The Meaning of the Law

2.The Motivation of Love

1.What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?

2.If someone were to sum up your life in one sentence (from birth to death), what would you want it to say? If you were to sum up your life in one sentence (from birth to the present), what would it say?

3.What question is Jesus asked in Matthew 22:36? Why was this question controversial? How does Jesus’ answer (vv. 37-39)? What’s surprising about his answer? Jesus says that all the Law and Prophets depend (or hang) on the commandments to love God, and love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:40). What does he mean by this (see also Romans 13:8-10)?

4.What’s the danger in defining our “neighbor” too narrowly (see Matthew 5:43f)? What’s the danger in defining our “neighbor” too broadly (or generically)? How does Scripture define our “neighbor”? How does this direct our love?

5.Jesus calls us not simply to, “love our neighbors”, but to “love our neighbors as ourselves”. What does this say about our natural inclinations? How does the gospel free us from self-absorption (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15)?

6.Why is the command to “love your neighbor” more complex than it might first appear? Can you think of a time you sincerely tried to love your neighbor, but your actions didn’t have the desired impact?

7.Jeff listed several bad motivations for loving our neighbors. Which of these motivations are you susceptible to? Why? Share an example with the group. Jeff also listed several good motivations for loving your neighbor. Which of these do you find most motivating?

8.What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this passage?