The Greatest Commandment

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Mark 12:28–34
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The Greatest Commandment
A scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus replies, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." As Christians, we recognize the centrality of these commandments in our faith. Loving God with our entire being and loving our neighbors as ourselves encapsulates the essence of the two tables of the Law. Yet, we know we fall short. We are reminded of our need for a Savior, Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled these commandments on our behalf. Through His sacrificial love on the cross, we receive forgiveness and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to strive towards these commandments. Our daily walk involves seeking to love God and serve our neighbors, knowing that our efforts are made righteous through Christ. Let us pray for strength to live out this calling, reflecting the love of our Savior in all we do.