An expert in religious law tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40 NLT
When the man tried to trap Jesus and make Him look foolish by rating Moses’ teaching, Jesus turned the tables and made him look foolish. He answered with the ancient words of the Jewish Shema, which Christians now call the Great Commandment. The religious “expert” should have known the answer to this question, but because they were focused on law and behavior instead of intimately knowing and showing the love of God, he could never grasp it. It went right over his head.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Jesus said, “The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all you have – all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Then he threw in the vitally connected fact: “The next command is JUST as important as the first – you must love all others the same as you love yourself.”
In other words – this is more important than everything God had said up to that point – Jesus elaborated and drilled the message in – all of the specific demands of the entire law and prophets are covered by following these two.
Jesus further specified it by calling us to His new command (John 13:34-35), and the New Testament letters refer to it numerous times. The things the writers specifically say are not new commands – they are simply saying in specific situations, “This is what following the Way of Jesus, loving God completely and other people as Jesus loved you, would look like in this situation.”
Following the Way is simple, not easy.
Following the Way is following Jesus, becoming increasingly like Him.
Following the Way is a lifetime journey.
Following the Way starts with believing – but it is abundantly more and eternally rewarding.
- I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. Always forward. You?