The Greatest Commandment
Jesus teaches in the Temple:
Jesus replied
“The most important commandment is this:
Listen, O Israel!
The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.
And you must love the Lord your God
With all your heart, all your soul,
All your mind, and all your strength.”
Mark 12:29-30
While teaching in the Temple the week of Passover, Jesus is confronted with questions by the religious leaders of the day on many occasions. Sometimes the questions are to purposely try to trip Him up or catch Him in heresy—an excuse to arrest and crucify Him. Sometimes they are more innocuously meant to flesh out the basis of Jesus’ religious teaching.
In this instance Jesus is setting forth His orthodox teaching. Jesus quotes known Old Testament dogma beginning with the Shema—the ancient Jewish call to worship—”Listen, O Israel!” He follows that up with the 1st Commandment as handed down to Moses.
Jesus is pointing out that all righteous worship of God stems from the love that is to be shown to the “One and only Lord”. All other actions flow from there.
What does it mean to love with all heart, soul, mind and strength?
We are instructed to intelligently (mind), affectionately (heart), spiritually (soul), and physically (strength) love God. Jesus will go on to say that by loving God first we will show the same love to our neighbors.
How can we, in our day-to-day lives, keep this, the greatest commandment?
Think before we act. Then act with kindness and unending vigor, no matter the circumstance. Call on the Spirit of God for help and guidance to carry out our mission.
Help our neighbors in good times and bad—a meal for a shut-in or a ride to an appointment. Even a monetary gift directly or to a church program.
Cut someone’s grass or shovel their snow.
When you love God first, worship and adore Him, you will naturally be able to carry out all His other commandments.
Pray:
Dear Father in Heaven, I love you, I love all that you have done for me. Mostly, I love that you have sent your Son to redeem me to you by his sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection as payment for my sins. In Jesus holy name I pray, Amen.