“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.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36) His teaching, following this question, is foundational to our faith. Jesus’ reply to this question is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is what is known as the “Great Commandment.” Of course, the second is like it, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) God, who has loved us with unfathomable grace and mercy, commands us to love God and love others in the same way.
Jesus teaches about the greatest commandment in all four gospels. This teaching is at the very heart of Jesus’ ministry. It was not a new teaching. When Jesus shares this great lesson, he is reciting the great teaching found in the book of Deuteronomy. This teaching is part of the scripture known as the Shema. The word Shema is taken from the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4. Shema is the Hebrew word for “Hear.” The words that follow in the next few verses demand the attention of God’s people.
This scripture begins with a clear statement about who God is. God is one and God is our Lord. The Hebrew people were to remember and recite this often. As the new nation of Israel moved into the promised land, they needed to remember that their God was unlike any deity they may encounter in the new land. After all, God is the one who delivered them from captivity in Egypt.
The second verse in the Shema is how God’s people are to feel and behave towards God. God’s people are to love God with their whole heart, soul, and strength. Love is what compelled God to rescue the people from slavery and form them into a new nation. Because God is love and God acts in love, God’s people should love the same.
The greatest commandment is an ancient commandment. It forms the foundation of our faith. It is rooted in the fact that God first loved us, and God’s love should motivate us to treat others in the same way. To love God and to love others, we must first remember that God loves us, and God acts in love on our behalf.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
