Jesus taught that the entire Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms can be summarized by FIRST loving the Sovereign LORD God with ALL our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and SECOND loving our neighbor as ourselves.[1] Notably, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament in giving the entire Holy Bible's greatest and first commandment. According to Jesus, the first and greatest of all the commandments is to know that the LORD our God is one LORD, and we are to LOVE the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength and energy.[2] The first and great commandment captures the idea of a total and wholehearted devotion to the covenant Sovereign LORD God and includes the duty to obey God’s commandments.[3] Jesus quoted Deuteronomy when teaching the first and greatest commandment of the Holy Bible.[4]
Next, Jesus taught the second greatest commandment is to love and care for our neighbor as ourselves with all mercy.[5]Love does not hurt and harm others.[6] Jesus wanted everyone to be good towards one another, even if they were of a different race or a foreigner.[7] Again, with the second great commandment, Jesus quoted from Leviticus 19:18 of the Old Testament. As taught in the Old Testament, Jesus wanted everyone not to hate nor bear vengeance, bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger against another person in our hearts but to love one another from a pure heart.[8] True love from heaven above lasts forever.[9]
The Gospel of Mark noted that our wholehearted love, obedience, and passion for the Sovereign LORD God and love for others as we love ourselves are more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.[10] In fact, Jesus taught that those who love God and others are close to entering God’s Kingdom and will have life.[11] Jesus taught that God wants mercy, compassion, fairness, and forgiveness toward others more than religion and sacrifice.[12] As a Jewish Rabbi, Jesus’ teaching about mercy and fairness towards others comes directly from the Old Testament prophets and describes what the Sovereign LORD God wants from ALL PEOPLE – Jews and Gentiles.[13]
Since the Old Testament, the covenant Sovereign LORD God announced through His prophets that He required wholehearted faithfulness, love, and obedience to Him and mercy and fairness towards others more than our rituals, religion, tithes, Sabbaths, and sacrifices.[14] Obedience to the Sovereign LORD God and love for one another are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices, leading to entrance into God’s Kingdom.[15] Moreover, the Apostle Paul wrote that loving and caring for others is the best and most excellent way of life.[16] The Apostle Paul encouraged everyone not to seek one’s own good but seek the good of God and others first.[17] Even our spiritual gifts from God are for the good of others and to build up the church.[18]
A genuine and loving relationship with the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus demands our wholehearted devotion and faith that yields humble obedience to Him as well as mercy and kindness towards others.[19] Sacrifices representing repentance and faith could repair a breach caused by sin, but sacrifices are never a substitute for a life lived by obedience to God and His Word.[20] In summary, the Law of Moses, the Prophets, Psalms, and the New Testament call everyone to FAITH and OBEDIENCE with our whole hearts to the covenant Sovereign LORD God and His commandments.[21]The covenant Sovereign LORD God calls everyone to be good, forgiving, and truthful towards one another and live for His glory.[22] Only when we have love and faith in the covenant Sovereign LORD God and love for one another that believers truly fulfill the Law of God and His Son Jesus – the Law of Christ.[23]
[1] See e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Leviticus 19:18; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; Luke 10:25-28; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1-3, 16; 1 John 3:11, 23.
[2] See Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:29-30; John 17:3.
[3] See e.g., John 14:15, 21-23; 1 John 5:3.
[4] Deuteronomy 4:35-39; Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 30:6; see also Joshua 2:11; Isaiah 55:6.
[5] See e.g., Matthew 5:43; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 19:19; Matthew 22:39; Mark 23:23; Mark 12:31; Luke 6:31; Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; John 15:12-13, 17; Romans 12:9; Galatians 5:14; Colossians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1-3, 16; James 2:8; 1 John 4:8, 16.
[6] See e.g., Romans 13:10.
[7] See e.g., Luke 10:25-37.
[8] Matthew 5:3-12, 21-26, 44-45; Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Mark 11:25; see also Leviticus 19:11, 17-18; Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 4:24-26; Ephesians 5:1-3; Colossians 3:13; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 12:15; 1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:15, 23-24.
[9] See e.g., 1 Corinthians 13:8.
[10] See Mark 12:33-34.
[11] See Mark 12:34; Luke 10:28. To enter God’s Kingdom also requires our wholehearted love and trust in Jesus, who is One with His Holy Father (see e.g., John 3:16-18; John 14:1, 6, 9-11).
[12] See e.g., Matthew 7:12; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Mark 12:33; Luke 6:31; John 7:24.
[13] See e.g., Isaiah 1:16-19; Isaiah 56:1.
[14] See e.g., Deuteronomy 10:12-13; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Isaiah 1:11-17; Isaiah 57:15; Jeremiah 22:3, 16; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:4, 6, 14-15; Micah 6:6-8; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 7:9-10; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; James 1:27.
[15] See e.g., Psalm 40:8; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Mark 12:33-34.
[16] See e.g., Romans 15:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 14:1.
[17] See e.g., Romans 12:9-10; 1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 13:5; Philippians 2:3-4.
[18] See e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
[19] See e.g., Exodus 19:5-6; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Micah 6:6-8.
[20] See e.g., 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 51:16-17; Hebrews 10:5-9.
[21] See e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 17-18; Joshua 1:7-8; Joshua 22:5; Joshua 23:6-8, 11; Luke 8:21; John 14:15, 21, 23-24; John 15:9-10, 14; 1 Corinthians 7:19; 1 John 2:3-5; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Revelation 22:14-15.
[22] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:39; Luke 6:31; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:12-14, 17.
[23] See e.g., Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; Romans 3:31; Romans 12:9-10; Romans 13:10; Galatians 6:1-2; Hebrews 13:1-3, 16; James 2:8.
