Reflections: Living the Greatest Commandment

After studying the book of Mark, I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ concise response to the question posed by a Jewish teacher of the Law in Mark chapter 12. Recognizing Jesus’ wise response to previous questions, the man asked Jesus to identify the “greatest commandment.” 

As a religious leader, he was not referring simply to the Ten Commandments list in Exodus 20, but rather the entire Law given to Moses and recorded in the Old Testament, plus quite a few traditions and details. Jesus’ answer, though, resonated strongly.  

“The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 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 other commandment greater than these” (v. 29-31).  

The teacher asking the question immediately recognized the wisdom in that answer, as would have all the listeners including the critical ones, because Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 6, the Shema prayer recited daily by devout Jews. Those commands basically sum up all the others: Put God first, and treat others well. 

That hasn’t changed. The Lord, the Creator God, is the one true God, and putting Him first sets everything else in its proper place. While Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial requirements of the Law, many New Testament references clearly indicate the moral Law still stands. And Jesus’ teaching, including the Good Samaritan parable and the Matthew 25 “sheep and goats” passage, clearly demonstrates care for others should also be a priority. 

The Deuteronomy passage continues with the command to teach our children diligently. When I was a homeschool mom, resource materials and curriculum emphasized a biblical framework, and for many families, a primary reason for homeschooling was to incorporate biblical principles and equip children to make godly decisions in the future. 

While we didn’t actually write Bible passages on our doorposts, the things we surround ourselves with do matter. My parents set a great example: in their home, one couldn’t look far without seeing a Bible, plus faith-based magazines and Scripture-themed home décor. I want my grandkids to see the same at my house, and also see us making wholesome choices about entertainment, reading materials and music. Even if not overtly faith-based, those things should reflect our Christian values and encourage good conversation and thankfulness. Anything that does the opposite doesn’t belong in our home. 

As often happens when I’m pondering on a passage of Scripture, God allowed circumstances during our vacation this week to reinforce the principles. Entering the trailhead for a fairly challenging hike with a high chance of bear sightings, we encountered a father and his two young adult daughters, who asked if we would like to proceed together with them, as a slightly larger group and conversation are supposed to help prevent surprise wildlife encounters. 

Getting acquainted while heading down—no, actually, up—the trail, we learned they were Jewish Christians visiting from Israel. That made for plenty of conversation, but one thing that stuck with me was that in planning their timeline for the day, they wanted to make sure they were back at their lodging that evening to begin observing Sabbath. 

Curious, I asked what they would do for Sabbath since they were far from Israel and not currently with their U.S. relatives. The daughters explained that they would set aside time for rest and their father would lead them in Sabbath Scripture readings and prayers, including the Deuteronomy passage I had recently studied. No secular entertainment, not even a strenuous hike, but enjoying nature and focusing on the God who created it. 

Our new friends were a great reminder that, even when vacationing and away from our normal routines, some things should stay constant. I pray I never forget, in the busyness of life, to center my thoughts and actions around putting God first and serving others. Perhaps reviewing Jesus’ words about the Greatest Commandment is a good start.