Test the Teaching: How to Know God’s Will and Spot False Doctrine: Matthew 22:37-40 KJV

Translate this page and site into over 100 languages by using the Google Translate Menu on the HOME PAGE.  Please  subscribe to our YouTube channel and this blog.  It is free. It helps. Hit the Red Bell.   Thanks

 

Matthew 22:39–40 (KJV):
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

 

The Two Commandments That Expose False Teaching

Note:  Yesterday’s post explained Matthew 22:37, Today we will concentrate on verse. 39 and sumarize with verse 40.

When asked which commandment was the greatest, Jesus gave a clear and eternal answer. First, He said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37–38 KJV). Then He added: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (v. 39).

Finally, He explained in verse 40: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words, everything God ever commanded through the Law and every word spoken by the prophets can be summed up in these two truths: love God completely, and love people sincerely. 

 

 

What Does It Mean to Love Your Neighbor?

Loving your neighbor means treating others the way you would want to be treated—with kindness, fairness, and respect. It is not limited to friends or family, but even strangers and those who may be different from us. When you love your neighbor, you show the heart of God to the world.

Think of someone who shares food with a hungry family, forgives a co-worker who wronged them, or comforts a hurting friend. These actions are not just good manners; they are reflections of God’s love in action.

 

Jesus’ Complete Comment Explained

Jesus was teaching that God’s will is not complicated. His will is rooted in love, truth, and grace. If we truly love God, we will obey Him. If we love our neighbor, we will not harm them but help them. Together, these two commands hold up everything else in the Bible. The Gospel itself flows from this foundation: God so loved the world that He gave His Son, and Jesus showed that love by giving His life for us.

 

Understanding the Will of God

To understand the will of God is to understand love. His will is that we live in relationship with Him, walk in truth, and extend grace to others. It is not about endless rules but about a heart transformed by love. When we love God first and love people next, we are living in the center of His will.

 

✅ Reflection Question:
How can you show love for both God and your neighbor today in a way that reflects truth and grace?

 

The Apostle John wrote: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1 KJV). When Jesus said that all the law and the prophets “hang on” the two great commandments (Matthew 22:40 KJV), He gave us a clear measuring stick.

 

Testing Teachings by Love and Truth

If a teaching does not lead people to love God more deeply and love others more sincerely, then it falls short of the will of God. Many false teachings might sound wise or spiritual, but if they stir up pride, division, or hatred, they are not rooted in the spirit of Christ.

Paul also warned in Galatians 1:8 KJV that even if an angel preached another gospel, it should not be accepted.

 

Testing the Spirit in Which It Is Taught

The “spirit” behind a teaching is just as important as the words. A spirit of humility, grace, and love reflects the Spirit of God. A spirit of arrogance, fear, or control does not. As Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20 KJV). The fruit of love is always evidence that God’s Spirit is at work (Galatians 5:22–23).

 

Putting It Together –

Just as we test the spirits, we should also test the teaching. The standard is the same:

Does it honor God with heart, soul, and mind?

Does it promote love for neighbor?

Does it carry the spirit of truth and grace found in the Gospel?

If the answer is no, then it is not aligned with God’s will, no matter how eloquent or popular the teacher may be.

 

Hashtags:   #bible study, #truth, #false teaching, test the spirit, test the teaching, will of god, #UnderstandingGodsWill, #LoveYourNeighbor, #GreatCommandment, #BibleStudy, #ChristianLiving, #FaithAndGrace, #HeartSoulMind, #JesusTeachings, #DailyDevotion, #LoveGodLovePeople, #KingJamesBible, #ScriptureOfTheDay, #ChristianEncouragement, #WalkingInTruth, #GodsLove, #ChristianFaith, #BibleWisdom, #GospelMessage, #TruthAndGrace, #LivingForChrist

Keywords:  Bible study, truth, false teaching, discernment, God’s will, test the spirit.will of god, test the teaching, test the spirit, understanding the will of God, Matthew 22:39 KJV, love your neighbor as yourself, love God and love people, two great commandments, Jesus teaching on love, Bible truth and grace, Christian devotion lesson, living God’s will daily, King James Bible gospel, heart soul and mind devotion, Christian love in action, simple gospel truth, walking in grace and truth, God’s will explained, law and the prophets meaning, Jesus greatest commandments, love truth and grace gospel, Christian blog post inspiration, faith and obedience to God

 

Disclosure: Below graphics are not affiliated links. There is nothing to buy. Take the challenge: 45 Days to Learn the Gospel Challenge

 

 

 

Romans 10:17 KJV  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

A CALL TO SALVATION:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10  ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

  John 3:5-6  ⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷