Jesus was asked “Which is the greatest commandment in The Law?” His answer is quite surprising…
Notable Passages
Matthew’s Account
Matthew 22:35-40 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” [[Matt-22#v36|]][[Matt-22#v37|]][[Matt-22#v38|]][[Matt-22#v39|]][[Matt-22#v40|]]
Distinctive elements in Matthew’s Account
The unique elements in Matthew’s account include the explicit testing nature of the question and Jesus’ concluding statement that all the Law and Prophets depend on these two commandments. This account emphasizes the foundational nature of these commands to the entire Jewish religious system.
Mark’s Account
Mark 12:28-34 One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?” Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 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.’ This is the first commandment. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that. [[Mark-12#v29|]][[Mark-12#v30|]][[Mark-12#v31|]][[Mark-12#v32|]][[Mark-12#v33|]][[Mark-12#v34|]]
Distinctive elements in Mark’s Account
- The scribe’s positive impression of Jesus’ previous answers
- Jesus beginning with the shema (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one”)
- The inclusion of “strength” in the list of how to love God
- The scribe’s affirming response that loving God and neighbor is “much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices”
- Jesus telling the scribe he is “not far from the kingdom of God”
Luke’s Account
Luke 10:25-28 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” [[Luke-10#v26|]][[Luke-10#v27|]][[Luke-10#v28|]]
Distinctive elements in Luke’s Account
- It’s quite likely, that Luke’s account is actually a different (albeit very similar) event.
- The question is about inheriting eternal life rather than identifying the greatest commandment
- Jesus responds with a counter-question, allowing the lawyer to provide the answer
- Jesus affirmation that doing these things leads to life
- This exchange serves as introduction to the Good Samaritan parable, which expands on the meaning of “neighbor”
Understanding Jesus’ Answer
Jesus is asked “What is the greatest (i.e. only one) commandment?” and yet Jesus answers with two commandments.
The First: Love the LORD your God
The command to love God comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, part of the shema, a central prayer in Jewish liturgy:
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. [[Deut-06#v5|]]
This text was recited twice daily by devout Jews and represented the foundation of Jewish monotheism and devotion.
The Second: Love your neighbor
Leviticus 19.18 “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
These Two Commandments Are Inseparable
It would be natural for us to think that the second commandment that Jesus cites here is #2, the second greatest commandment. But if you pay attention, you’ll see that it is not so simple.
Matthew 22:39-40 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” [[Matt-22#v40|]]
Jesus calls the second commandment likewise or like it. This tells us that the second is like the first. Then Jesus says “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” The Law depends on these two commandments. Not just the greatest, but both.
Yes, the first commandment that Jesus cites is the greatest. Jesus explicitly states so in Matthew 22.38. Nevertheless, Jesus was not content to only list the first. He also listed the second, and if He did so, He must have thought it was necessary. Evidently, Jesus did not think it was right to separate these two.
Neither did John:
1 John 4:20-21 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother. [[1 John-04#v21|]]
From this verse we can clearly see, that it simply isn’t possible to love God, while still hating your brother. Stated another way, loving God requires loving your neighbor.
Who is your neighbor?
If I can’t obey the first commandment, without obeying the second, then naturally we should ask “Who is your neighbor?” That is precisely what the layer asked in Luke 10.29. Jesus responds by telling them The Parable of the Good Samaritan. Before diving into Jesus’ response, it is helpful to ask yourself this question? “Who is my neighbor?” Then after reading the parable, ask yourself “Does Jesus agree with me? Does Jesus have the same definition of neighbor as I do?”
Perhaps your definition of neighbor is like one of these:
- people who live next to me
- my family
- people who share my beliefs and values
Most likely this lawyer (likely a pharisee) believed that a neighbor is another fellow Israelite, a descendent of Jacob, who is circumcised and observes the Law (the Torah). This was the dominant view at the time (and this view continues to this day).
After reading the parable, it is abundantly clear that this was not the view that Jesus held. To recap, the parable describes a man who was beaten by robbers. Three people pass him by. The first two, a priest and a Levite both leave him to die. But the third, a Samaritan, sacrifices time, effort and money to help the poor man. Now look at what Jesus says after the parable:
Luke 10:36-37 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” [[Luke-10#v37|]]
As much as he may have wanted to, the lawyer could not say that the priest or the Levite seemed like a neighbor, for they certainly didn’t behave like a neighbor. More shocking still, the lawyer feels compelled to answer that the third person was a neighbor. But look, he can’t bear to say who it actually is. He can’t say the Samaritan was a neighbor. As you might know, Samaritans and Israelites have a long, contentious history, and they certainly did not consider each other to be neighbors.
Jesus chose a Samaritan, a non-Torah observing, non Jew, to be the neighbor in His story. Jesus chose an enemy, to be the neighbor in the story. If this is true, if my enemy can be my neighbor, and if I must love my neighbor, then that must mean I must love even my enemy. If there is any doubt, Jesus makes it clear here:
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, [[Matt-05#v44|]]
There is no way around it. Jesus’ view of neighbor is broader than ours, and it even includes our enemies. If you don’t love your enemies, then you don’t love your neighbor, and if you don’t love your neighbor, then you don’t love God, and you are breaking the greatest commandment. Take the time necessary to reflect on your relationship with God, and with others. It is imperative that you do so.