On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:40 ESV
Jesus was asked which of the 613 commandments in the law of Moses was the greatest. He answered with two, to which he seemed to give equal status as the greatest. To love the Lord our God with all we are (Deut. 6:5), and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18).
Jesus then added that all the Law and the Prophets depended on these two commandments. When you read through the Old Testament and the instructions God gave through Moses and the prophets, it is easy to see how many were centered around these two commands.
If we love God with all of our being, and love those we come into contact with, we will have done all that the Law and Prophets require. The Law and Prophets help us to understand how to love God and others. But they are not a replacement for love. Nor do they add any new requirements.
As Christians, we might question how much of the Law still applies to us, especially the Ten Commandments. Jesus’ response tells us that question is moot if we love the way we should.
But it is not enough to love God or to love others. Jesus told us that the two are equally important. When we emphasize one them over the other, we have fallen short.
Don’t be satisfied with just loving God and thinking all is well. And don’t believe that so long as you are caring for other people, God will be happy with you. Love God and love others. When you do that, you are doing well. You have done all that God requires.
