THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Well said, Teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:28-34 (NIV)

Here we have the whole duty of man summed up for us in a few verses by the Creator of the universe. Can it be that mankind’s problems are the result of our failure to follow these two basic commands? The apostle John emphasizes their importance when he says “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21 (NIV) How, then is it possible to have hatred toward our fellow human beings and treat them in such UNGODLY ways, and then claim that we love God? Any religion that teaches hatred cannot be from God!

Mark Overt Skilbred