Talk:Great Commandment

Moved unformatted material from article February 12, 2025

The great commandment and the other commandment that is spoken just under it in Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31 are in response to an unnamed Pharisee, who was described as a scribe, or lawyer. This scribe/lawyer was testing Jesus, trying to trick Jesus into saying something disreputable, or scandalous according to their religion. Jesus responded by saying the greatest commandment was "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

In Matthew 22:40, Jesus explains the reason behind these being the greatest commandments; one, or both are the root of all the other commandments that are given to his followers.

OT:4687

mitsvah (mits-vaw'); from OT:6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law):

Genesis 26:5

5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. KJV The verse above took place long before Exodus 20:1, the first of the 10 commandments.

Exodus 12:11

11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's Passover. KJV

Exodus 12:14

14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. KJV

Exodus 12:49-50

49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. KJV

These verses also took place before the 10 commandments were given to Moses.

John 14:21

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. KJV

The first of the 10 commandments is the greatest of all commandments but not the first.