We see throughout the Gospels and New Testament writings the Two Greatest Commandments, most of the church know this part very well. But if we ask the tough question of how do we Love God and Love our Neighbor the answer is across the board with kinds of interpretations, then ask them to define how per scripture and most have no idea. So in this teaching we are going to let scripture define the Two Greatest Commands.
Matthew28:19–20
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
So in the great commission given in Mathew 28 he commands to teach all nations to observe all things he commanded us. So this topic is important to know how to teach. We have to know where to look on how to teach this. When Yeshua and the apostles were out teaching and preaching the New Testament was not written yet, they were teaching from the Old Testament. And as we can see from 2 Timothy 3 that ALL scripture is profitable for doctrine so we have to look to the Old Testament to define these commands.
2 Timothy3:16–17
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Your going to see the Two Greatest Commandments spoken in 3 of 4 of the Gospels, Mathew, Mark, and Luke. What we have to do is pay attention to the wording in each account to know where to look.
Matthew 22:36–40
“Master, which is the GREAT COMMANDMENT in the LAW?
Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the LAW and the PROPHETS.”
From Mathew 22 we learn a few things, hes giving us a place to look. He says which is the great commandment in the LAW, now we know we have to look in the Torah to find these two commands. We also see that all the LAW and the PROPHETS hang on these two commands.
Mark 12:28-31
“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is,
Hear, O ISRAEL; The Lord our God is ONE LORD: and
Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this,
Thou shalt LOVE thy NEIGHBOR as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
So from Marks account he gives us specific wording on exactly where to look for the first commandment. He says “Hear, O ISRAEL; The Lord our God is ONE LORD: and
Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength“. If you mentioned this to anyone in Judea in the first century they would know exactly what they meant and was referencing. In Judaism this is considered the Shema which is Deuteronomy 6 verse 4 through 9. We will look at exactly what those verses tell us in context in a minute but first lets cover the third Gospel to see what details we can gather.
Luke 10:25–37
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the LAW? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
So within the Luke account the man asks how to inherit eternal life, this should be something we should pay very close attention to especially if we want the same. And once again he points us to the LAW and says how readest thou, so we have to read what the LAW says about it to inherit eternal life. In this account he gives extra details to the second greatest commandment by telling us who our neighbor is. It speaks of the Samaritan who showed MERCY on him was him was his neighbor. We will define what MERCY is later but first lets get another account from Yeshua on how to inherit eternal life, this will play into the first greatest commandment later.
Matthew 19:16–22
“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which?
Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
So the man asks how to inherit eternal life and Yeshua says keep the commandments, the guy says which? he goes on to list 5 of the 10 commandments then gives the second greatest commandment. So as we can see, keeping the commandments of God plays into how we Love God. The many says i have kept all these from my youth, what lack I yet? And he answers sell all you have an follow me but the man couldn’t, he walked away sorrowful because he had great possessions. What is that verse really telling us? Well the tenth commandment which was not listed is the one that Yeshua was bringing light to, the man had covetousness still in him. He couldn’t get rid of his possessions to follow him. So what we are supposed to learn from this is to Love God and to have eternal life we are to keep the Ten Commandments. Just because he didn’t list all 10 doesn’t mean thats not what he was referencing. Let me use another verse to prove this point.
James 2:10-11
For whosoever shall keep the WHOLE LAW, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
So many people would look at what James wrote and think Paul is saying you break anything written in the Law of Moses you are become a transgressor. But thats not whats its saying. Paul uses the word Nomia which in Greek for Law sometimes in a positive like in Romans 3:31 or sometimes in the negative like in the book of Galatians, we just have to look at the context to see if hes speaking of the Law of Moses or the Law of God which is the Ten Commandments. Verse 11 of James 2 gives us context. He lists two of the Ten Commandments. So yes if we break one we break them all but if we keep them we receive the Spirit as per Acts 5:32.
1 John2:7–11
“Brethren, I write NO NEW COMMANDMENT unto you, but an OLD COMMANDMENT which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. AGAIN, a NEW COMMANDMENT I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
1 John 3:4-12
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”
John 13:34–35
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
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When he said: Hear, O ISRAEL; The Lord our God is ONE LORD he is quoting a very particular verse. And Judaism is called the Shema. It’s in Deuteronomy 6. Chapter 5 is the Holy Covenant or 10 Commandments. Let’s see what he says after he gave the 10 commandments.
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Deuteronomy 5:22
“These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.”
Deuteronomy6:1–3
“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: that thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.”
What he’s quoting in Mark 12:29
Deuteronomy 6:4–9
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt LOVE the LORD thy God with all thine HEART, and with all thy SOUL, and with all thy MIGHT. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt TEACH THEM diligently unto thy CHILDREN, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a SIGN upon thine hand, and they shall be as FRONTLETS between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
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Revelation 14:12
“Here is the PATIENCE of the SAINTS: here are they that keep the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and the FAITH OF JESUS.”
James 2:1
“My brethren, have not the FAITH of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with RESPECT OF PERSONS.”
James 2:7–9
“Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the ROYAL LAWACCORDING to the SCRIPTURE, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, ye do well: but if ye have RESPECT OF PERSONS, ye commit SIN, and are convinced of the LAW as TRANSGRESSORS.”
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Leviticus 19:15–18
“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in JUDGEMENT: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in RIGHTEOUSNESS shalt thou JUDGE THY NEIGHBOR. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
Thou shalt not HATE thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise REBUKE thy NEIGHBOR, and NOT suffer SIN upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR as THYSELF: I am the YEHOVAH.”
1 John3:10–11
“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”
1 John3:14–16
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a MURDERER: and ye know that NO MURDERER hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the LOVE OF GOD, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John3:22–24
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his COMMANDMENTS, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should BELIEVE on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and
LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as he gave us COMMANDMENT. And he that KEEPETH his COMMANDMENTS dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
Titus 1:10–14
“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
1 Corinthians7:19
“CIRCUMCISION is nothing, and UNCIRCUMCISION is nothing, but the KEEPING of the COMMANDMENTS of GOD.”
2 Timothy3:16–17
“ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: that the man of God may be PERFECT, throughly furnished unto all
GOOD WORKS.”
2 Timothy4:2–5
“preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT with all LONGSUFFERING and DOCTRINE. For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves TEACHERS, having ITCHING EARS; and they shall turn away their ears from the TRUTH, and shall be turned unto FABLES. But WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
Galatians 5:13–18
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto LIBERTY; only use not LIBERTY for an occasion to the FLESH, but by LOVE serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfil the LUST of the FLESH. For the FLESH lusteth against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the FLESH: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the SPIRIT, ye are not under the LAW.”
Galatians 6:1–2
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the
SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the LAW of CHRIST.”
Romans 2:11
“for there is no respect of persons with God.”
Psalm 144:1
“Blessed be the LORD my strength, Which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”
Psalm 144:9
“I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.”
Matthew 5:43–48
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore PERFECT, even as your Father which is in heaven is PERFECT.”
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Righteous Judement
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity ( Agape ) among yourselves: for charity ( Agape ) shall cover the multitude of sins…
1 Corinthians6:1–11
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Romans 13:1–8
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
The Bible has told us to judge, but we are to judge by what is right. We are not to condemn, and we are not to be judgmental. We are to judge false doctrine, call out evil for what it is.
John 7:24
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Ephesians 5:11
“Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”
Proverbs 31:9
“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
1 Corinthians 6:1-6
“When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!”
Yeshua commands us to Judge
John 7:24
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
Gods righteousness is psalms 119:172
Judging is the character of being spiritual
1 Corinthians2:15–16
“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.”
We are to judge those in the church
1 Corinthians5:12–13
“For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
We are to judge preaching
1 Corinthians14:29
“Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.”
We are to judge doctrine and teaching
2 Corinthians 11:4
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
We are to judge the deeds and workers of darkness
Ephesians 5:11–12
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
We are to judge false teachers
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
Matthew 7:15-16
Many don’t judge because they’re cowards…
Righteous judgment is judgment based on the 10 Commandments, because his commandments are righteous and when you judge by his commandments, it’s righteously. If you judge based on your own understanding, it’s error.
Rev 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
And because they’re utterly wicked in heart!
Mat 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
There’s countless instances where he puts the judgment in our hands one of which is when dealing with matters in the church we’re not to present our brothers to the judge of the world because we should be able to judge these matters our selfs…
One day the elect will judge the world
1 Corinthians 6:1-6
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers
By fulfilling the royal law which is Leviticus chapter 19:17-18…
Leviticus 19:17
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Which is loving your neighbor as yourself it is even written don’t you know you will judge the angels. Nowadays the issue is that the church has gone apostate..departing from sound doctrine, and sound doctrine being the 10 commandments.
Proverbs 15:9–10
“The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: But he loveth him that followeth after RIGHTEOUSNESS. Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh THE WAY: And he that HATETH REPROOF shall die.”
Ezekial 13:16
To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.
Jeremiah 6:14
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
Micah 3:5
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
And they hate those who rebuke in the gate…
Amos 5:10
They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
And as it is written they say stand by they self I am holier than thou which is a smoke in Gods nose…
Isaiah 65:5
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day
Unfortunately many people are trading in God‘s righteousness for their own self righteousness this mixed with the false notion of gentleness in the Fruits of the Spirit which actually translates to usefulness if you just use a concordance for the word Gentleness…
G5543 (Strong)
χρηστός
chrēstos
khrase-tos’
From G5530; employed, that is, (by implication) useful (in manner or morals): – better, easy, good (-ness), gracious, kind.
Gentleness, G5544 (num:G5544)
**G5544 (****Strong** (lexiconnum:Strong.G5544))
χρηστότης
chrēstotēs
*khray-stot’-ace*
From G5543 (num:G5543); *usefulness*, that is, moral *excellence* (in character or demeanor): – gentleness, good (-ness), kindness.
**Total KJV occurrences: 10**
Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Even more so you’re not gonna be any use if you’re acting like a hippie and coddling sin why do you think loving your neighbor as yourself as instructed in the royal law covers a multitude of sins…