Date: 23 August 2026
Sermon By: Sis. Ho Gaik Kim
Introduction
Sis. Ho Gaik Kim reminded us that there is a proper place for questions, discussion, debate, and theological learning. Academics can sharpen our thinking, deepen our understanding, clarify what we believe, and help us respond wisely to different perspectives. However, she cautioned that Christian learning must never become merely intellectual. Knowledge that does not lead to obedience, transformed character, and godly relationships can become spiritually unproductive.
In Matthew 22, Jesus faced a series of questions from the religious leaders. Although their questions appeared intelligent and sincere, their motives were often to trap, ridicule, or test Jesus rather than genuinely seek truth. Sis. Ho highlighted that the Pharisees and Herodians asked whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, while the Sadducees presented a theoretical question about the resurrection. Finally, an expert in the law asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment.
Jesus did not become entangled in their academic arguments. Instead, He brought them back to the basics:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
And:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:39 (NIV)
Sis. Ho reminded us that the real question is not simply “How much do I know?” but “How faithfully do I live out what I know?”
1. Back to the Basics: Do Our Questions Lead Us to God?
Matthew 22:15–18
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.”
— Matthew 22:15 (NIV)
The Pharisees and Herodians approached Jesus with what appeared to be a straightforward question:
“Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
— Matthew 22:17 (NIV)
Sis. Ho highlighted that the question itself was not necessarily wrong. The problem was the intention behind the question. They were not sincerely seeking God's truth; they were trying to trap Jesus.
She described the situation humorously as “the accolades come before the ambush.” They first praised Jesus for His integrity and teaching before attempting to trap Him with their question.
Jesus responded:
“So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
— Matthew 22:21 (NIV)
Jesus demonstrated wisdom rather than allowing Himself to be manipulated into a political argument.
The lesson for us
Sis. Ho reminded us that we should not be afraid of questions or deeper theological discussion. However, we need God's wisdom and discernment to recognize whether a question is genuinely seeking truth or merely creating doubt.
We should therefore ask:
Does my study of Scripture lead me closer to Christ?
Does my knowledge produce obedience?
Does my learning make me more loving?
Am I seeking truth, or simply trying to win an argument?
After all my discussion and debate, am I actually becoming more like Jesus?
She referred to the beautiful prayer of Richard of Chichester:
“To know You more clearly, love You more dearly, and follow You more nearly, day by day.”
That is the proper purpose of Christian learning.
2. Knowledge Without Transformation Is Not Enough
The Sadducees then presented Jesus with a complicated hypothetical question about seven brothers who successively married the same woman and all died. They asked whose wife she would be in the resurrection.
The question sounded theological and intellectual, but Sis. Ho pointed out that it was essentially a theoretical argument designed to ridicule belief in the resurrection.
Jesus responded by exposing their misunderstanding of Scripture and God's power:
“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
— Matthew 22:29 (NIV)
This is an important warning.
We can possess:
Bible knowledge without obedience;
theological understanding without love;
correct doctrine without transformed character;
religious activity without genuine relationship with God.
Therefore, the goal of Christian learning is not simply to know more, but to live differently.
Sis. Ho encouraged us to examine whether our discussions and Bible studies ultimately lead to a transformed life. We must not become so absorbed in theoretical questions that we neglect the clear commands God has already given us.
3. Jesus Brings Us Back to the Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:34–40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together again. An expert in the law tested Jesus:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
— Matthew 22:36 (NIV)
There were 613 commandments in Jewish tradition, so this was another opportunity for an extensive theological discussion.
But Jesus reduced everything to the essential foundation.
The First and Greatest Commandment
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
— Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
Sis. Ho emphasized the word “all.”
God does not ask for a seasonal or fragmented love.
He calls us to love Him with:
all our heart — our desires and affections;
all our soul — our whole being;
all our mind — our thoughts and understanding.
In Mark's account, Jesus also includes strength (Mark 12:30).
Therefore, loving God means giving Him the totality of our lives.
Not merely Sunday worship.
Not merely Bible study.
Not merely church attendance.
Not merely knowing Scripture.
But loving God with everything we are.
4. The Greatest Commandment Is About Relationship
Sis. Ho reminded us that the religious leaders had become deeply concerned with law-keeping. There were ceremonial laws, civil laws, dietary laws, moral laws, sacrifices, festivals, and many other regulations.
The danger is that religious activity can become a substitute for a relationship with God.
We can easily fall into the mindset:
“I have done this.”
“I have fulfilled that.”
“I have attended church.”
“I have served.”
“I have studied the Bible.”
Yet our hearts may remain distant from God.
The two greatest commandments point us back to relationship—relationship with God and relationship with our neighbour.
Sis. Ho reminded us that when we truly love God, that love must overflow into the way we treat people.
“If there is real love for God, inevitably there will be real love for neighbor.”
— Michael Green
Our love for God is therefore demonstrated through our love for people.
5. Love God Totally, Not Seasonally
Sis. Ho challenged us not to love God only during special seasons.
We may become especially spiritual during:
Holy Week;
Easter;
Christmas;
church anniversaries;
special conferences;
retreats;
Bible studies.
But God desires a love that continues every day.
She humorously challenged us to examine ourselves: perhaps none of us are completely “heartless” or “soulless,” but we can become “strength-less” or give God less than our whole selves.
The commandment is for ordinary Christians, but ordinary Christians can accomplish extraordinary things when they obey God through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
6. Loving Our Neighbour Is the Evidence of Loving God
Matthew 22:39
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The second commandment cannot be separated from the first.
Sis. Ho reminded us that people are created in the image of God and therefore possess dignity and worth. When we love God, we begin to see people through God's eyes rather than merely through our own preferences, prejudices, frustrations, or judgments.
The practical question therefore becomes:
How am I treating the people God has placed around me?
Our neighbour may be:
our spouse;
our children;
our parents;
our siblings;
our church members;
our colleagues;
our classmates;
our friends;
our difficult neighbour;
someone who disagrees with us;
someone who has hurt us.
It is easy to say we love humanity in general. It is much harder to love the person who is physically close to us and sometimes difficult to understand.
Yet this is where Christian love becomes real.
7. Jesus Is Our Model of Love
Sis. Ho reminded us that the command to love our neighbour was not a completely new teaching. Jesus drew from the Old Testament:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
and:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Leviticus 19:18
Jesus brought these together and declared that:
“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
— Matthew 22:40 (NIV)
However, Jesus later gave His disciples an even deeper command:
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
— John 13:34 (NIV)
Sis. Ho emphasized that Christ Himself is our example of love. His love was not merely emotional or theoretical. Jesus' love moved Him to help, serve, sacrifice, forgive, and give Himself for others.
Therefore, Christian love must move from:
knowledge → attitude → action.
8. Love Must Be Lived Out in Every Season of Life
One particularly meaningful part of Sis. Ho's message was her encouragement to seniors.
She reminded us that Christian service and love do not stop because we grow older.
Even when physical strength decreases, we can still:
make a phone call;
write a personal message;
send an email;
invite someone for a meal;
give someone a lift;
share our resources;
listen to someone;
encourage someone;
pray for someone;
mentor younger believers;
share our testimony.
Sis. Ho shared the example of an elderly Christian scholar who, even while living in a nursing home, continued to welcome former students, counsel them, pray with them, read, write, and serve God's people.
The important lesson was:
We must not merely mark time; we must continue to love and serve in whatever way God enables us.
This is especially meaningful for older Christians: our later years can become a season of legacy, passing faith and faithfulness to the next generation.
9. Theology Must Be Lived Out
Sis. Ho concluded that there are many things Christians can discuss, debate, question, and study. However, quoting Dr. James Houston, she reminded us:
“Theology has to be lived out.”
Our faith must be translated into daily life.
It is not enough to say:
“I believe in love.”
We must love.
It is not enough to say:
“I know God's Word.”
We must obey God's Word.
It is not enough to say:
“God has forgiven me.”
We must also learn to forgive others.
It is not enough to say:
“God loves me.”
We must allow God's love to flow through us toward others.
Sis. Ho reminded us that because God is an incarnate God—a God who came into our world, lived among us, loved us and served us—our faith must also become an incarnate faith, visibly demonstrated in our everyday relationships.
Conclusion
Sis. Ho Gaik Kim's message calls us to move “Back to Basics, Not Academics.”
This does not mean that theological study, questions, or intellectual discussion are unimportant. Rather, academics must serve the greater purpose of helping us know God more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly.
Jesus Himself brought everything back to two foundational commandments:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
— Matthew 22:37
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Matthew 22:39
These are not merely verses to memorize. They are commands to live.
Sis. Ho reminded us that none of us can perfectly fulfil these commandments. No matter how long we have been Christians, how much Scripture we know, or how much ministry we have performed, we remain dependent upon God's grace.
Therefore, the Christian life is not about proving how much we know. It is about allowing God's grace to transform how we think, love, serve, forgive, relate, and live.
Only when the basics are firmly established can transformation take place—not only in our own lives, but also in our relationships, our church community, and our witness to society.
For those in the later seasons of life, Sis. Ho gave an additional challenge: leave behind a legacy of persevering faith and faithfulness for the generations that follow, because God has been and continues to be faithful.
Take-Away Message
Christian maturity is not measured by how much we know about God, but by how faithfully we love God with all that we are and love our neighbours as ourselves.
A Simple Challenge for the Week
Know → Love → Obey → Serve
Know God more clearly.
Love Him more dearly.
Follow Him more nearly.
Love others more faithfully.
Live out the Gospel daily.
Theology must become life, and knowledge must become love.
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