We have grown up hearing about the 10 Commandments and we have been taught to follow them. Oftentimes they can seem confusing or overwhelming. For starters, let’s take Yeshua’s advice and focus on the two greatest commandments.
There are many commandments in the Bible. The disciples asked Yeshua, which are the two greatest commandments? In Matthew 22″ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
The two greatest commandments from Yeshua
Yeshua tells us in Matthew 22:37-40 that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. but what does that really mean for us? How can we put those commands into action in our everyday lives? let’s take a look at what scripture has to say about how we can love both God and others well.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
There are ten commandments from God for us to live by and these are essential standards for a follower of Him. Yeshua didn’t come to change the Ten Commandments that YHWH gave Moses, He came to uphold the law. Just like His death would make a way for believers to approach the Father through Him, He wanted to make it easier for believers to live by the commands from the Father. In the Gospels Yeshua summarized the Ten into Two. The first four commands fall under one, and the last six fall under the other.
For this lesson let’s focus on the two greatest commandments – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself. The first four commands speak to our love and devotion to God and to His command to obey and keep Sabbath rest.
There is no room for wavering in our loyalty and devotion when it comes to loving God as He wants us to do. This supreme commandment must be obeyed with a wholehearted commitment of our innermost core, with single-mindedness of purpose and energy that reflects an unwavering strength – all of which exemplify unconditional love derived from His Holy Spirit within us. As we make a conscious decision to follow God above all else, our lives become transformed into one abundant supernatural love-filled relationship with His delightful Shalom peace!
Love your neighbor as yourself
Believers across the world have been encouraged for centuries to love each other as God loves us. One of the clearest examples of this is the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself”. This powerful statement covers the last six of the ten commands. It reminds us of how we should view and treat our neighbors, no matter their background or beliefs. It implies that we should act kindly towards them and recognize them as equal human beings who deserve respect and compassion. This can be difficult at times, especially if we are dealing with opposing views, but it’s an essential duty for believers to uphold so that everyone feels welcome in our midst as we all grow in relationship with the Father. Living out these words reminds us of God’s loving-kindness toward us and His unconditional love, which all people deserve to experience.
What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength simply means dedicating ourselves to the Lord in prayer, studying His whole Word, living according to His ways, and being a light and spreading His Good News. It is a choice we must make each day as we submit our desires and wills to His greater plan. Nothing in life matters more than showing love to the Almighty Creator and obeying His commands. We can demonstrate this by singing praises to Him, reading His Word regularly, obeying Him in every way possible, daring to step out of comfort zones that I call “out of the boat” moments, into new opportunities that He brings our way, trusting Him no matter what challenges come against us and most importantly loving others through the unconditional love He has given us.
How can we love our neighbors as ourselves?
As scripture tells us, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is not an easy task in a world that creates division and animosity between people of different backgrounds, faiths, and experiences. But it is possible – with just a small dose of compassion and kindness, we can break down barriers, build bridges of understanding and acceptance, and create strong communities based on mutual respect. We can start by engaging in meaningful conversations with our neighbors to better understand who they are and what matters to them. When we think about what behaviors foster connection instead of division—when we strive for peace instead of discord—we become more conscious of how loving our neighbor truly looks like in action.
To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is a commandment we are called to obey. This means that we must first know Him intimately by spending time with Him in prayer and studying His word. Only then can we hope to understand how truly great His love is for us. In turn, we can develop a deeper love for Him that fills our every thought and action. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, it becomes easier to also love our neighbors as ourselves. By following these two greatest commandments from Yeshua, we can experience true joy and fulfillment in life no matter what circumstances come our way.
What a delightful thought! It doesn’t get any easier than that! Start out focusing on just two. The Ruach will lead you from there.
I invite you to search the Truth yourself. Test it. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Please go to your Bible and study the entire story. See firsthand what His word says and what He wants to show you. I always check several versions to allow the Spirit to show me the difference and truth. I recommend you do the same.
Enjoy pondering that thought today!
God bless you