What Are The Two Greatest Commandments According To Jesus

Jesus Christ was perfect exemplar of the two ‘great commandments’

With all of your heart, soul, and mind, you are to love the Lord thy God, as well as with all of your soul and intellect. The first and most important commandment is this. The second commandment is similar to the first: “Thou shall love your neighbor as thyself.” All of the law and all of the prophets are hung on these two commandments. (See Matthew 22:37-40.) Christ’s highest qualification to give the two great commandments was that He was the epitome of love, and He did so while acting as the perfect model for fulfilling both.

As a child, Jesus claimed that he “must be about my Father’s business,” and later that He “can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father accomplish” (Luke 2:49).

By speech and behavior, he instilled the belief that “the greatest among you should be your servant.” (See Matthew 23:11 for further information.) It was a display of love that each of his good works – including preaching the gospel and curing ill and infirmed people, comforting the lonely, repudiating wickedness, and reviving the dead – was given to “the one,” with the command to “inform no man.” (See Matthew 8:4) These deeds were so numerous and magnificent that “if they were all written down,.

even the globe itself would not be able to accommodate the books that would have to be written.” (See also John 21:25.) But even in the face of such praise, He served and loved in complete purity, instructing his students to “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” (Matthew 5:17) (See Matthew 6:3-4.) Charity is a purity of love that was characterized by both the Apostle Paul and the prophet Mormon, and they both advocated its attainment as the highest of all virtues.

Specifically, according to the teachings of Mormon’s son, Moroni (see Mormon’s Definition of Charity), charity is defined as the manifestation of all the traits of love that the Savior manifests toward His Father and all people.

In the words of St.

(Morning 10:21) According to the Book of Mormon, prayer is the key to obtaining this purity of love: “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, pray unto the Father with all your heart’s energy, that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son.

When a specific lawyer inquired, “And who is my next-door neighbor?” The story of the good Samaritan was then told by Jesus as a response.

Despite the long-standing hatred that existed between the inhabitants of Samaria and the Jews, the Samaritan “felt compassion on him,” and “went to him, and tied up his wounds,.

He then enlisted the assistance of an innkeeper, paid him for his efforts, and promised to return in order to reimburse any additional costs incurred as a result of his generosity.

(See Luke 10:35-45 for further information.) At the conclusion of the tale, Jesus immediately advised the lawyer to “Go, and do thou likewise.” (See also Luke 10:37.) A person’s love for God and for others is best demonstrated by his or her willingness to do “likewise.” When someone truly loves God, his or her treatment of others is a true representation of that love.

According to the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, those who sit at God’s right side are summoned to the judgment seat and rewarded on the day of judgment: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-23).

  • Then the righteous will respond to him, saying, “Lord, when did we see thee hungry and provided food for thee?” or thirsty, and we provided you with a drink?” When did we notice that you were a stranger and welcomed you in?
  • When we do anything for someone else, whether for good or bad, we are doing it for God.
  • N.
  • We cannot completely love God until we also sincerely love our fellow, and we cannot truly love our neighbor unless we also truly love God.” In the April 1967 Conference Report, p.

105, it is stated that Due to the fact that God is Love, the gospel is wrapped inside the law of love. The Bible says in 1 John 3:8 that

Great Commandment – Wikipedia

Jesus cites the first of two commandments in Matthew 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-34, and in response to him in Luke 10:27a, which is referred regarded as the Great Commandment (or Greatest Commandment) in the New Testament. The majority of Christian churches regard these two commandments to be the foundation of a proper Christianlifestyle, and they are accurate. In the Bible, it is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. “Hear this, O Israel: The Lord is our God, and He alone is our God. You are required to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your strength.” as well as Leviticus 19:18 In the words of the Lord, “You shall not seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of the inhabitants of your land, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

New Testament accounts

. and one of them, a lawyer, put him to the test by asking him a question. “Teacher, which of the Ten Commandments of the Law is the most important?” He told him, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “‘You should love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind,’ the Bible states. This is the first and most important commandment of all. It’s similar to the second verse, which says, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ All of the law and all of the prophets are hung on these two commandments.”

Gospel of Mark

TheShemais is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark: “One of the scribes drew near and heard them debating with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he questioned him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” says the scribe. Jesus responded by saying, “It begins, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.’ The second commandment is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.

Gospel of Luke

Just at that moment, a lawyer stepped up to question Jesus. “Teacher, what do I have to do in order to obtain eternal life?” he inquired. He told him, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “What exactly is put down in the law? What exactly did you read there?” “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your strength, and with all of your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” he said. And he told him, “You have provided the correct response; follow these instructions, and you will survive.”

Old Testament references

Because I am the Lord, you are not permitted to seek revenge or hold a grudge against any of your people, but you are required to love your neighbor as yourself.

Deuteronomy

Hear this, O Israel: The Lord is our God, and He alone is our God.5 You are required to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your strength.

Love the Lord thy God

The following is how Matthew Henry summarizes the question of which is the greatest commandment: In the Law, it was a question that was contested among the critics. Some would consider the Law of Circumcision to be the Great Commandment, while others would consider the Law of the Sabbath, while still others would consider the Law of Sacrifices; now they would test what Christ said in response to this question, hoping to inflame the people against him if he did not answer according to the popular opinion; and if he did magnify one commandment, they would consider him to be vilifying the others.

Adam Clarke said in his Commentary on the Bible that the first and greatest commandment is: “This is the greatest commandment.” It is the “original and greatest”:

  1. In its antiquity
  2. Being as old as the earth and having been imprinted on our basic essence from the beginning
  3. In all of its majesty
  4. As though it were directly and instantly emanating from and referencing God
  5. Being the commandment of the new covenant and the very spirit of the Divine adoption, it is at the pinnacle of excellence. In its justice
  6. Since it is the only one who gives God his due, favors him above other things, and ensures that he receives his appropriate place in regard to them
  7. In its fairness Because of its sufficiency, and because it is capable of making persons holy in this life while also making them joyful in the next, In its fruitfulness
  8. Since it is the source of all commandments and the means of bringing the law into fulfillment
  9. In its goodness and effectiveness
  10. Because it is the only means by which God reigns in the hearts of mankind and by which humans are joined to God
  11. Leaving nothing to the creature, and making no reference to the Creator
  12. In its whole
  13. And in its entirety
  14. As a result of its essential need, it is referred to as Throughout its existence
  15. It will always be perpetuated on earth and will never be abandoned in heaven

When it comes to loving the Lord your God, it is defined as “behaving in such a way that God will be beloved by all His creatures.” As a result, Israel, as the priest-people, is obligated, like the Aaronite priest, to sanctify the name of God and to avoid anything that tends to desecrate it (Lev. xxii. 32). He is not only obligated to give his life as a witness or martyr for the preservation of the true faith (see Isa. xliii. 12, ; and Pesik. 102b; Sifra, The Shema Yisrael, which comprises the lines “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thine soul, and with all thine might,” is said twice a day by every Jew (Deut.

5).

32).

There have been differing interpretations of the relationship that exists between the two commandments because of this double reference, although traditionally “love thy God” is referred to as “the first and greatest commandment,” and “love thy neighbor” is referred to as “the second great commandment.” It might simply be a reflection of Hillel’s “seven rules (Middot),” in this instance the first rule, known as al wa-omer (Hebrew: ), which he established.

Love thy neighbor as thyself

When asked which is the greatest commandment, the Christian New Testament shows Jesus quoting theTorah: “Thou must love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” before also reciting a second section; “Thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself.” Most Christian churches see these two commandments as, combined, forming the heart of the Christian religion. The second paragraph is regarded as a variant of the Golden Rule in its application (circa 1300 BCE).

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See also

  • Christian–Jewish reconciliation
  • The relationship between Christianity and Judaism
  • The Judeo-Christian tradition
  • The Law of Christ
  • The New Commandment

References

When Jesus cites the first of two commandments in Matthew 22:35–40, Mark 12:28–34, andLuke 10:27, he is referring to the Great Commandment. When Jesus said the great commandment in Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31, he was responding to an unidentified Pharisee who was characterized as a scribe, or a lawyer. The other commandment that was spoken immediately after it was also in response to this Pharisee. This scribe/lawyer was putting Jesus through his paces, attempting to coerce Jesus into saying something disreputable or scandalous in the eyes of their religious community.

This is the first and most important commandment.

There is no commandment more important than these three.” (Matthew 12:29-31) As Jesus explains in Matthew 22:40, the rationale for their being considered the greatest commandments is that either one or both of them are the source of all other commandments that are given to his disciples.

Quotes

Testament of the Hebrews ( )

  • Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one and the same throughout the universe: In addition, thou shall love the LORD, thy God, with all of thy heart, all of thy soul, and all of thy might

The New Testament is a collection of writings that were written during the years of ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad ad

  • One of the scribes stepped in, having overheard them debating and concluding that he had responded, he approached him and said,

He knew them well, so he inquired, “What is the first commandment of all?” And Jesus responded, “The first of all the commandments is, “Do not kill.” Listen up, O Israel. We serve a single God: the Lord our God. And the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength; this is the first and greatest commandment in all of Scripture. Furthermore, the second commandment reads as follows: “Thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself.” There is no other commandment that is more important than these.

  • A lawyer among them then asked him a question, enticing him by saying, “Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” He replied, “The greatest commandment in the law.” To this, Jesus said, “Thou must love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart, and with all of thy soul, and with all of thy mind.” The first and most important commandment is this. The second commandment is similar to the first: “Thou shall love your neighbor as thyself.” All of the law and all of the prophets are hung on these two commandments.

Quotes about the Great Commandment

  • Specifically, Jesus combines all duties (1) in a single universal rule (which encompasses both men’s inner and outer moral relations), namely: Perform your duty for no motive other than unconditioned esteem for duty itself, i.e., love God (the Legislator of all duties) above all else
  • And (2) in a specific rule, namely, that which concerns man’s external relation to other men as universal duty: Love everyone as yourself, i.e., promote his wellbeing out of genuine goodwill that is not derived from self-interested impulses, rather than out of selfish purposes. These directives are not only laws of virtue, but precepts of holiness that we should strive to follow, and the pursuit of these precepts is referred to as virtue.
  • Immanuel Kant, Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone, Book IV, Part 1, Section 1, “The Christian religion as a natural religion”
  • Immanuel Kant, Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone, Book IV, Part 1, Section 1, “The Christian religion as a natural religion”
  • Immanuel

OT:4687 A mandate, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law), is denoted by the Hebrew word mitsvah (mits-vaw’). Genesis 26:5 is a five-word verse. Because Abraham listened to my voice and followed my instructions, as well as my commandments, regulations, and rules, I am grateful. KJV The events described in the passage above occurred long before Exodus 20:1, which contains the first of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 12:11 – Exodus 12:11 As for how you are to consume it, you are to do it quickly, with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; for this is the LORD’s Passover, and you are to eat it in haste.

KJV Exodus 12:49-50 is an example of a parable.

50 As the LORD had instructed Moses and Aaron, so did all the children of Israel; they followed the instructions of the LORD.

14:21 (John 14:21) I will love him, and I will manifest myself to him; and he who loves me will also be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him as I have done for you.

External links

QuestionAnswer Matthew 22:34–36 tells the story of Jesus being asked this precise issue by a Pharisee who was believed to be “an expert in the law.” “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind,” Jesus said. In all of creation, this is the greatest and most vital commandment. Similarly, the second is: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. “All of the Law and all of the Prophets are dependent on these two commandments,” says Jesus in Matthew 22:37–40.

  1. When it comes to our connection with God, the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are divided into two categories: first, our relationship with God, and secondly our relationship with other people.
  2. Our connections with others will suffer as a result of our failure to maintain a proper relationship with God.
  3. Unless we first love God with all of our heart, mind, and soul, we will never be able to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
  4. After being challenged by another Pharisee how one might “inherit eternal life,” Jesus said that one could do so only by following these two commandments (Luke 10:25–37).
  5. Considered in its whole, Jesus’ statement was really a great response not just to the Pharisee of His day, but also to all modern-day “Pharisees” who attempt to judge a person’s holiness by how well he or she outwardly complies to a system of regulations or prohibitions.

Taking Jesus’ words, along with the fact that all of the laws and commands in Scripture can really be summarized by these two commandments, we come to realize just how impossible it is for us to keep God’s commandments, and how frequently we fail to do so, and how we can never be righteous before God on our own.

Our inability to obey God’s law and His anger upon us “brings about wrath,” yet “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” according to Romans 4:15.

While we will never be able to obey God’s commandments or be righteous in His sight on our own, Christ accomplished this feat.

In order to be saved, “you must confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has resurrected Him from the dead.

Finally, according to Romans 1:16–17, the gospel of Christ “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” and “the righteous shall live by faith.” After all, the gospel of Christ “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” We don’t have to ponder or search for the solution ourselves since Jesus answered this precise issue and His response is recorded in Scripture.

  • Are our hearts, souls, and brains genuinely united in loving God with everything that we have?
  • If we are honest with ourselves, we recognize that we do not, but the good news is that the law and commandments were given as “a tutor to bring us to Christ, in order that we could be justified by faith” (Romans 3:25).
  • Sole when we see our own wickedness and helplessness will we be compelled to turn to Christ alone as the only means of redemption available to us.
  • As the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and minds, we are able to begin to love others as we have been loved.

Questions about Matthew (return to top of page) What is the most important commandment?

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QuestionAnswer A Pharisee who was believed to be “an expert in the law” approached Jesus and asked him this same question (Matthew 22:34–36). “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind,” Jesus stated in response. In the Bible, this is the greatest and most essential commandment. Second, love your neighbor as you love yourself is a similar concept. According to Matthew 22:37–40, “the entire law, as well as the prophets, is founded on these two commandments.” As a summary of all the rules and regulations in Scripture, Jesus offers us two commandments.

  • Natural flow occurs when one thing leads to another.
  • Man’s yearning to be reconciled with God is the root cause of all of the world’s ills.
  • Because humankind are living in rebellion against God, all of mankind’s attempts to bring about universal peace will be fruitless.
  • Despite the fact that there are only two commandments to keep, how often do we, like this Pharisee, strive to “justify” ourselves by claiming that we fulfill these commandments when in reality it is far easier to live according to them.

While both the Pharisees of Christ’s day and the many versions of them today create a whole system of rules and regulations for people to follow, they are both guilty of breaking the most important commandment of all because they “cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but not the inside” (Matthew 23:25–26), the most important commandment of all.

  1. One hope remains, and that is that God “justifies the ungodly,” as the saying goes (Romans 4:5).
  2. God’s law and our inability to obey it “brings about wrath,” according to Romans 4:15.
  3. We shall never be able to fulfill God’s laws or be just in His eyes if we do not rely on Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness.
  4. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,” the Bible says.
  5. 10:9–10; emphasis added).
  6. That leaves us with the only question of whether or not we are living our lives in accordance with these commands.
  7. Do we honestly love our neighbor as we would like to be loved?
  8. (Galatians 3:24).
  9. The goal of every Christian is to love God with all of our hearts and minds.
  10. However, we continue to fall short of this goal, which brings us once again to the cross of Christ and the hope of redemption that is based on Christ’s imputed righteousness rather than on our own merit.

Questions about Matthew (return to top of page). What do you consider to be the most important law of the Bible?

Two Great Commandments

It is the responsibility of mothers and dads, as well as of all of us, to teach our children both of the great commandments. According to President Spencer W. Kimball, women have a special responsibility, as indicated in this great prophecy: “Much of the tremendous increase that will come to our Church in the latter days will happen because many fine women from throughout the world. will be drawn to the Church in enormous numbers.” As long as the women of the Church live lives that reflect holiness and articulateness, as well as being perceived as separate and different.

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Accordingly, female role models in the Church will be an important factor in both the numerical and spiritual expansion of the Church in these latter days.” 22When asked about the prophesy, President Russell M.

23 We who heard that prophesy 40 years ago had no idea that among those who would be saved by the ladies of this Church would be their own beloved friends and relatives who are today swayed by worldly concerns and satanic distortions.

The Two Greatest Commandments – Bible

Christianity is sometimes cited as claiming that the two greatest commandments Jesus provided replace the 10 commandments of the Old Testament. Is this correct? In a nutshell, no! It’s because Jesus was only summarizing the 10 commandments, rather than completely replacing them. When you examine the New Testament, it becomes very evident that Jesus elevated the ten commandments and gave them a whole new meaning. He did not repeal them and replace them with “another legislation.” Instead, he amended them.

  1. He heard Jesus say to him, “Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all of thy heart, and with all of thy soul, and with all of thy mind.” The first and most important commandment is this.
  2. Did you realize that Jesus is quoting from the Old Testament in the passage above?
  3. .
  4. So tell me what you think.
  5. The fact is that Jesus was demonstrating to us the CONTINUATIONof God’s moral code revealed in the Old Testament and summarizing it as a LAW OF LOVE, rather than replacing it.
  6. The Pharisees were extremely conscientious about following God’s rules, which included ALL 613 of them.
  7. They had entirely lost sight of the importance of loving God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and the law had just become a “thing they had to do” in order to be saved, rather than the source of their salvation.
  8. The visible obedience of God’s Commandments becomes useless legalism if it is not accompanied by a genuine love for God.
  9. Before a person may begin to follow the rules of God’s law in his or her own power and by the grace of Christ, there must first be love in the heart of that person.
  10. A person, however, will immediately set out to organise his life in accordance with God’s plan, as represented in His commandments, if love is present in his or her heart (John 14:15; 15:10).

Obedience does not lead to love, but love DOES lead to obedience, and this is the difference. ‘Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind,’ Christ teaches us to love God with all we have in us, and that love will permeate every area of our being if it is genuinely present in us.

The Two Great Commandments

Lesson 15 of the Baltimore Cathechism is titled «previous:next».

188. Besides believing what God has revealed, what else must we do to be saved?

We must not only believe what God has revealed, but we must also follow His law. If you truly love me, you will obey my commands. (See also John 14:15.)

189. Which are the two great commandments that contain the whole law of God?

The two major commandments, which together comprise the entire law of God, are as follows:

  1. Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart, all of thy soul, all of thy mind, and all of thy strength
  2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself

So, to put him through his paces, one of them, a doctor of the law, put him to the test by asking, “Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus responded to him by saying, “You must love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind, as well as with your whole being.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the most important and fundamental commandment of all. Also, the second commandment is similar to this: “Thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself.” The entire Law as well as the Prophets are predicated on these two precepts.” (Matthew 22:35-40; Mark 10:35-40)

190. What must we do to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves?

To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves, we must follow God’s and the Church’s commands and engage in spiritual and corporeal deeds of mercy, as well as our own personal growth. My darling children, let us not love with words, nor with the tongue, but rather with deeds and in reality, as Jesus taught. (I John 3:18; II John 3:18)

191. Which are the chief corporal works of mercy?

Keep the laws of God and the teachings of the Church, and engage in spiritual as well as corporeal deeds of compassion if we are to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Let us not love with words, nor with the tongue, but rather with deeds and in reality, my beloved children. The Bible says (I John 3:18).

  1. To provide food for the hungry
  2. To provide water to those who are thirsty
  3. To provide clothing for the unclothed
  4. To pay a visit to those who are incarcerated
  5. To provide refuge for the homeless
  6. To pay a visit to the sick
  7. It is necessary to bury the deceased.

192. Which are the chief spiritual works of mercy?

The seven most important spiritual actions of compassion are as follows:

  1. In order to correct the sinner and educate the uninitiated, to give advice to those who are unsure
  2. To provide comfort to the bereaved
  3. To be patient in the face of wrongs
  4. To accept full responsibility for all wrongs
  5. Prayer for the living and the dead is encouraged.

193. Is everyone obliged to perform the works of mercy?

Everyone is obligated to carry out acts of kindness in accordance with his or her own abilities and the needs of their or her neighbor. Because I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me; I was naked, and you covered me; I was ill, and you visited me; I was in jail, and you visited me. (Matthew 25:35-36; Mark 10:35)

194. Are all the ordinary deeds done every day to relieve the corporal or spiritual needs of others true works of mercy?

Any and all of the common activities performed on a daily basis to meet the physical or spiritual needs of people are considered authentic works of compassion if they are performed in the name of Christ. It is true that anyone offers you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, amen I tell you that he will not be disqualified from receiving his reward. (Matthew 9:40)

195. Which are the commandments of God?

These are the 10 commandments of the Almighty:

  1. My name is the Lord your God, and thou shall not worship other gods before Me. It is forbidden to use the name of the Lord thy God in jest
  2. Remember to observe the Lord’s Day as a sacred day. Always remember to show respect for your parents. You are not permitted to kill. You are not permitted to commit adultery. You are not permitted to steal. You are not permitted to bear false witness against your neighbor. You are not permitted to desire thy neighbor’s wife. It is forbidden to desire your neighbor’s possessions.

196. Should we be satisfied merely to keep the commandments God?

We should not be satisfied with simply following God’s instructions, but should constantly be prepared to perform good actions even when they are not specifically requested. Go, sell what you have and give the proceeds to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and then come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21; Luke 19:21)

197. What does Our Savior especially recommend that is not strictly commanded by the law of God?

We are especially encouraged to observe the Evangelical Counsels, which include voluntary poverty, permanent virginity, and perfect obedience, among other things.

As a result, you are expected to be flawless in the same way that your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48; Mark 1:15) «prev:next»

The Two Great Commandments

The Bible has a lot to say about what God expects us to do, but it can all be boiled down to two simple commandments: love God and love our neighbor. The gospels of Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 10 all contain accounts of Jesus informing the disciples what the two greatest commandments are. Simply said, we are to “love God and love other people,” as the Bible says. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, these two important commandments were provided by Moses and taught by Jesus, respectively.

The Two Great Commandments in the Old Testament

There is little doubt that many Christians are aware with Jesus’ response to the question, “What are the two greatest commandments in the law?” However, have you ever pondered where in the law Jesus found the answer to His question? It was the most significant commandment in the Old Testament law, which Moses had given to Israel, that people were asking Jesus about when he was questioned about the greatest commandment.

The Greatest Old Testament Commandment

“Thou shall love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” says the most important commandment in the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 11:1, 13; 13:3; 30:6; Joshua 22:5; Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). The first time God’s greatest commandment was written was in Deuteronomy 6:5. When Moses was nearing the end of his life, Deuteronomy was presented to the children of Israel just before they crossed the Jordan River into the promised land. At the end of Deuteronomy 5, Moses recited the Ten Commandments and issued a warning to the people of Israel, saying: “You shall be cautious to do what the LORD your God has told you; you shall not veer off to the right hand or the left.” You must follow all of the commands that the LORD your God has given you in order for you to survive and for all to be right with you.

What’s more, Moses instructed them to proclaim: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORDisone!” With all of your heart, soul, and might, you must love the LORD your God as you have loved any other god before him.

It was also repeated in the New Testament in Deuteronomy 10:12.

  • Exodus 20:3 and Deuteronomy 5:7 state that you will not have any other gods before the one true, creator God. According to Exodus 20:4-5 and Deuteronomy 5:8-9, you are not to make, worship, or serve any idols. The name of the Lord will not be taken in vain by you (Exodus 20:7
  • Deuteronomy 5:11)
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The Second Greatest Old Testament Commandment:

Leviticus 19:1834, which contains the second greatest commandment that Jesus referenced from the Old Testament law, is the source of the second greatest commandment. The phrase “the sons of your people” in Leviticus 19:18 refers to “the sons of your people” (i.e.: their fellow Israelites). This idea is extended to any outsiders or foreigners who come to live with them in their country, according to Leviticus 19:34.

“Thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself” is not one of the Ten Commandments, yet it encompasses six of them in a single phrase. If you love your neighbor as yourself, then you will do the following:

  • According to the Old Testament law, Leviticus 19:1834 contains the second greatest commandment that Jesus quoted. It is just “the sons of your nation” that are addressed in Leviticus 19:18. (i.e.: their fellow Israelites). Those who are outsiders or foreigners who are living with them in their land are covered by this concept, according to Leviticus 19:34. It is not one of the Ten Commandments, but it encapsulates six of them: “Thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself.” You must do the following if you want to love your neighbor as yourself.

This is why Paul declared, “For everything of the law is completed. in this: thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself” (Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself) (Galatians 5:14).

The Two Great Commandments in the New Testament

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all have accounts of Jesus addressing inquiries regarding the two greatest commandments in the law, which are recorded in the New Testament. As previously stated, Jesus’ answer included quotations from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. The next part will look at Christ’s response in each of the four gospels individually.

The Greatest Commandments in Matthew 22:36-40

The scribes, pharisees, and other religious elites put Jesus to the test on a regular basis, looking for areas where He might be improved. It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that a lawyer approached Him and asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 22:36 in the New Testament. Then Jesus responded by reading verbatim from Deuteronomy 5:6 and Leviticus 19:18 to provide both of the big commandments to the people. You must love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind, no matter what.

And a second is similar: You are to love your neighbor as you are loved yourself.

In other words, these two major commandments serve as a condensed version of all of the rules and teachings of the Old Testament.

You will not be able to satisfy God until you do so.

The Greatest Commandments Mark 12:28-31

The events in Mark 12:28-31 are the same or very close to those described in Matthew 22. Mark provides information that is not present in Matthew. Mark 12:28 suggests that this questioner realized that Jesus had provided a thorough response to His interrogators, and it is possible that he was asking Jesus a valid question, such as “Which commandment is the most essential of all?” (ESV). According to the Bible’s account of Jesus’ response, the most significant verse is Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which states: “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.'” Moreover, you must love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength.” 28-30 Mark 12:29-30 (ESV) However, in response to the scribe’s query, Jesus did not stop with only the first and greatest commandment.

He went on to teach the entire law of the kingdom.

Jesus continued His response by referencing Leviticus 19:18 from the Bible.

According to others, Jesus introduced the second great commandment because you cannot genuinely love God unless you also love your neighbor (1 John 4:20).

It is far more valuable to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s understanding, and with all one’s strength, as well as to love one’s neighbor as one’s self, than it is to give up all of one’s burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:32-33 (KJV) (ESV)

The Greatest Commandments in Luke 10:25-28

The gospel of Luke also has accounts of Jesus teaching about the two great commandments, albeit he does not refer to them as such. In Luke 10:25, a lawyer puts Jesus to the test by asking what he (the lawyer) needs do in order to receive eternal life from the Father. When Jesus asked the lawyer how he interpreted the Law this time, rather than replying immediately, Jesus asked him how he interpreted the Law (Luke 10:26). According to Deuteronomy 5:6 and Leviticus 19:18, the lawyer provided an accurate response, stating: “Thou must love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as oneself.” Luke 10:27 (NIV) (KJV) “Do this and you will live,” Jesus advised the lawyer after confirming that he had provided an accurate response (Luke 10:28).

  • In our English translations, the entire significance of Christ’s remark is not immediately apparent.
  • DO this” is presented as a present active imperative in Greek, which is an order to continue doing what he should already be performing on a continuous basis (i.e.: loving God with all his heart and loving his neighbor as himself).
  • “And who is my neighbor?” he said of Jesus, in an attempt to excuse his actions.
  • Our neighbor can be anyone (even an adversary) who is in need of our assistance.
  • Jesus instructed the lawyer, telling him to leave and continue doing what he had been doing (Luke 10:36-37).

SUMMARY

The two major commandments serve as a condensed version of the entire law. If we truly wish to please God, we will always follow these instructions to the letter. We shall love God and acknowledge Him in all of our actions and endeavors. Moreover, we shall love all other people since they are made in the image of God, and God is fond of them.

Love God Greatly

Throughout the gospels, Jesus makes it very apparent what God’s greatest commandment is. All of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength are to be given to God in love. In other words, we are to love God with all of our hearts and minds and with our entire being. In everything we think, say, and do, we must strive to please God. If you sincerely love God, you will do the following:

  • Prioritize Him above all else in your life. You will abhor any type of idolatry in whatever form. No one and nothing else should come before your love to Him, and this includes yourself. Excerpts from Exodus 20:3-5
  • Deuteronomy 5:6-9
  • You will always revere and exalt His name, and you will never use it in a derogatory manner. Excerpts from Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:6-9
  • You will obey God’s commands (John 14:15
  • 1 John 5:2-3)
  • You will love other people as you love yourself (Galatians 5:14
  • 1 John 4:20)
  • And you will love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14
  • 1 John 4:20).

Love Peopleas Yourself

Every time Jesus was asked which commandment was the biggest or most significant in the Old Testament law, he always responded with the second greatest commandment, which is to love our neighbors as ourselves.

God loves all people (John 3:16), and all people have been made in God’s likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6). We cannot truly claim to love God unless we also claim to love all people, since God loves everyone and they carry His image in their hearts (1 John 4:20).

Love God and Love People

If we wish to please God, we must love him with all of our hearts and love other people as we love ourselves, no matter what. Both God and humans must be loved by us. When it comes to the two great commandments, Danny Gokey described them as follows: “Love God and love others.” Danny Gokey says in his contemporary Christian song “love God, love others,” “Gotta keep it real simple.,” that he wants to keep things simple. It everything boils down to this: “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” For anyone interested in hearing his music, you may watch a video of it on YouTube.

In the event that you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy:

  • God’s Three Wills
  • Loving God with All Your Heart
  • The Three Wills of God
  • The Art of Recognizing God’s Will and Making Informed Decisions
  • The Platinum Corollary is a term that refers to the relationship between platinum and gold.

Living my best life means following the two greatest commandments

In order to carry out Jesus’ greatest commandment, to love God, Ann Bailey intends to use Scripture readings and thoughts as a tool. Ann Bailey is a contributor to Agweek. The new year has here, and with it comes the long-standing custom of drafting a list of resolutions, as well as the more recent practice of selecting a word of the year. Even though every person’s resolutions and words are unique in their own way, I believe that they are both intended to help us set objectives that will help us improve ourselves while also striving to improve our connections with the people and other species that share our world with us.

It was a Pharisee who inquired of Jesus about the greatest commandment, in an attempt to trip Him up, that prompted Jesus to speak the remarks recorded in the passages.

The second is similar to the first.

The reason for this is that loving God covers taking care of oneself on all levels: the physical, emotional, and spiritual; and loving one’s neighbor takes care of everything else on my to-do list.

For me, when it comes to spiritual pursuits, the words of the greatest Teacher ring true since loving God also entails seeking to be close to Him via contemplation through Bible reading, frequent attendance at Mass at my church, and continuing to study about my Catholic religion.

As a result of my intentional love for God, my emotional health will improve as I learn to be glad for every time He provides me and to rely on Him for support rather than on myself when the stresses of life begin to weigh me down.

People ought to be treated with the compassion, respect, and dignity that they deserve, and if I love my neighbor as I love myself, I will do so in thought, word, and action.

I feel that caring for our dogs and cats, as well as supporting organizations that care for homeless pets, is an important part of loving my neighbor, and I will make every effort to do so.

While seeking to carry out Jesus’ two greatest commandments in 2022 — and beyond — will not alter the world, they will make my little part of it a better place.

Using the words of St. Mother Teresa: “We may not be able to accomplish big things, but we may be able to do modest things with great love.”

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