During his ministry on earth, Jesus taught the crowd a lot, from parables to the laws. Among his teachings, Jesus revealed the two greatest commandments, which summed up all of the commandments Moses had given to the people. This has prompted many bible readers to ask, “what is Jesus’ greatest commandment?”
During one of his teachings in the temple, Jesus revealed that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, as Mathew 22:37 says. Jesus revealed this to the temple crowd after a law teacher asked him, intending to trap him.
So, how many commandments did Jesus give? What are the two greatest commandments given by Jesus? While bible verses talk about Jesus’ greatest commandment? Why does the text about Jesus’ greatest commandment differ from the gospel books? Why did Jesus say Love is the greatest commandment? Should Christians only apply Jesus’ greatest commandments? How can Christians apply Jesus’ greatest commandments in their daily lives? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
How many commandments did Jesus give?
The exact number of commandments Jesus gave is yet to be clarified, as the scripture does not give us the same number. However, there are several clear commandments that Jesus gave. The first commandment that Jesus gave is in John 13:34-35, where he commands people to love one another, just like he had loved them.
Jesus also commands the public to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them in Mathew 5:44-45 so that they may be considered children of God. Jesus also gave another commandment to his disciples, in which he directed them to go to every place and make more disciples and teach them everything that he had taught them. He also goes ahead in Luke 21:36 and commands them always to be alert and in prayer so they may be granted strength to witness everything that will happen before him.
Mathew 4:17 says, “From the time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”
What are the two greatest commandments given by Jesus?
The two greatest commandments that Jesus gave are in the book Mathew, Mark, and Luke. Mathew 22:38 says, “Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the greatest and the most important commandment.” He then reveals the second greatest commandment in Mathew 22:39, “The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
From the scripture above, Christians learn that while all the other ten commandments are necessary, only the two greatest commandments involve Love. When one loves God with all their heart, mind, and soul, no temptation can allow them to fall into sin, as they will be doing precisely what God calls them to do. The second commandment also wants Christians to love their neighbor just as they love themselves, as Jesus knew how people are regarding self-love.
Which Bible verses talk about Jesus’ greatest commandment?
Jesus’ greatest commandment is mentioned in three books of the New Testament. This commandment is found in Mathew 22:38, Mark 12: 29-30, and Luke 10:27. Through the book of Mathew, Jesus reveals that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, and mind. He, however, adds the word strength in the book of Mark and Luke.
Why does the text about Jesus’ greatest commandment differ from the gospel books?
The Bible does not reveal why the text about Jesus’ commandments varies in the gospel books. However, several bible scholars have suggested that these verses differ as different people wrote them. They further argue that every individual may have interpreted Jesus’ words differently, according to their understanding.
The most significant difference comes in the book of Luke, as we see the teacher of the law who asked the question wanted to know what he was supposed to do to inherit eternal life, unlike the books of Mark and Mathew, where the teacher of the law wanted to know what the greatest commandment was.
Luke 10:25-28 says, “On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” he answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and will all your mind.”
Although these texts may be different, the message is still clear: Love is the greatest and second greatest commandment Jesus wants us to follow. Without loving God and your neighbor, you can never inherit the Kingdom of heaven, meaning you will not be righteous.
Why did Jesus say Love is the greatest commandment?
We see why Jesus said Love is the greatest commandment through different scriptures in the Bible. For instance, 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 says, “Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; Love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; Love does not keep a record of wrongs, Love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up, and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal.”
From the scripture above, it is evident that Love is more than just a single word; it carries all of what Christians should exercise daily to be close to God. To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength means to put him first and not do anything that offends him. This will only make Christians righteous.
Additionally, Jesus said Love is essential, as he wants all his children to love one another as they love themselves. This is because Love comes from God, and anyone who loves is considered a child of God. Ist John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another because Love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is Love.”
Should Christians only apply Jesus’ greatest commandments?
Christians should not only apply Jesus’ greatest commandment, as the rest of the commandments are just important as this one. Mathew 22:40 says, “The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.” This implies that one cannot follow the other commandments unless one loves God and their neighbors. One cannot steal from their neighbor if they love them or worship any other gods if they love God.
How can Christians apply Jesus’ greatest commandments in their daily lives?
Christians can apply Jesus’ greatest commandments in their daily lives by loving everyone around them just as they love themselves. Christians can also apply the greatest commandments in their daily lives by living according to how God wants them to and seeking his guidance daily.
References
- what is the greatest commandment?
- The greatest commandment- Bible Story
- Seven commandments Jesus gave from the gospels
- The great commandment
- What is the greatest commandment in the Bible?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
