The Greatest Command In the Law.

We’re in Matthew 22; The Expert of the Law vs. Jesus. The Pharisee has just thrown out his question to challenge Jesus. The air was thick with intensity. Everyone waited for Jesus reply.

Jesus speaks. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (22:37-38)

As always, Jesus gives the perfect response.

For us, living two thousand years later, it’s hard to fully comprehend how amazing his answer was. Of course, we know that Jesus memory for Scripture was supernatural because well, He’s the author.

But these Pharisees would have been in shock and awe at how simply, yet how complex his answer was. No huge debate, no long drawn out words, just simple, steadfast truth. But what archive did Jesus pull this from?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Right after Moses has given the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, he offers this crescendo statement:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Truly the Greatest Commandment

You see, it doesn’t matter who you are or where your from, what social status or intelligence level someone is at; loving God with your heart, soul and strength covers it all.

Jesus chooses the perfect verse, to pierce the hearts of the Pharisees. But Jesus doesn’t stop there.

The Second Command In the Law

Even though the Pharisees only asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus is going to throw out the second greatest; just to clinch the win.

Jesus adds, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Once again, this isn’t some principle that Jesus pulled out of the air. These Pharisees are experts of the Mosaic Law, and so therefore Jesus will use a key passage from the Mosaic Law.

Leviticus 19:17-19

“‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.’

‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Keep my decrees.’”

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

What do you know about Old Testament Law? Can you quote a few laws from the Torah? Do you have any favourites?