Great Commandment
Two commandments cited by Jesus as the greatest in the law.
The Great Commandment (or Greatest Commandment) is a name used in the New Testament to describe the first of two commandments cited by Jesus in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and in answer to him in Luke 10. According to Jesus of Nazareth, the first and greatest commandment is that 'the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.' Most Christian denominations hold that these two commandments, taken together, form the core of the Christian religion.
- field
- Christian theology, New Testament teachings
- known_for
- First and greatest commandment: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; second: love your neighbor as yourself
- source
- Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke; Old Testament Deuteronomy and Leviticus
Lore & Background
In the Gospel of Matthew, a lawyer asked Jesus, 'Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?' Jesus replied, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus answered a scribe by quoting the Shema Yisrael: 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord is God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' He added the second commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' and said, 'There is no other commandment greater than these.' In the Gospel of Luke, a lawyer asked what he must do to inherit eternal life; Jesus directed him to the law, and the lawyer himself recited the two commandments, to which Jesus said, 'You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.'
Reader's Guide
The Great Commandment draws directly from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ('Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might') and Leviticus 19:18 ('You shall love your neighbor as yourself'). Jesus combined these two passages, presenting them as the foundation of the entire law and prophets. The first commandment is considered 'first and greatest,' while the second is 'like it.' Most Christian denominations view these two commandments together as the core of Christian religion. The second passage is considered a form of the Golden Rule. The article notes that although only asked about the first commandment, Jesus included the second, giving rise to differing views on the relationship between them. The double reference may reflect the first of the seven rules (Middot) of Hillel, called Ḳal wa-ḥomer. Observant Jews recite the Shema Yisrael twice daily, which contains the words 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might.'
Did You Know?
- The Great Commandment appears in three Gospels: Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 10.
- Jesus quoted the Shema Yisrael from Deuteronomy 6:4–5 as the first and greatest commandment.
- The second commandment, 'love your neighbor as yourself,' comes from Leviticus 19:18.
- Most Christian denominations hold these two commandments together as the core of the Christian religion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Great Commandment?
The Great Commandment refers to the two commandments Jesus identified as the most important in the Mosaic law. He declared that loving God with one's entire being is the first and greatest, followed by loving one's neighbor as oneself.
Where does the Great Commandment appear in the Bible?
It is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (chapter 22), Mark (chapter 12), and Luke (chapter 10). In each passage, Jesus is responding to a question about which commandment ranks highest in the law.
What are the two parts of the Great Commandment?
The first part calls a person to love God wholeheartedly—engaging the heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second part extends that same love outward, directing one to treat a neighbor with the same care one has for oneself.
Why is the Great Commandment considered so central to Christian faith?
Most Christian denominations teach that these two commandments together summarize the entire moral and spiritual obligation of the law. They are viewed as the foundational principle around which all other ethical teachings revolve.
Where did Jesus draw the Great Commandment from in the Old Testament?
The first commandment echoes Deuteronomy 6:4-5, while the second mirrors Leviticus 19:18. Jesus wove these two passages together to present them as the summary of the whole law.
More in Theology And Religious Concepts 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record