“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all they do, they prosper.” ~Psalm 1: 3

“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.”  Matthew 22:3

In Matthew’s telling of the story, Jesus was involved in a long series of disputations with Sadducees, lawyers, chief priests, elders, scribes, Pharisees, and their disciples. In each confrontation, he proves himself more careful, clever, and inspired than his adversaries. A legal expert from among the Pharisees asks Jesus one last question in order to test him. For him to answer wisely will be a confirmation of his teaching authority.