Behold The Greatest Commandments

Hi, Jesus loves you.

What do you think are the greatest commandments? When Jesus came He pointed out the two greatest commands of God and towards the end of His mission on earth He gave a new commandment to His disciples. The summary of these three commands give the summary of the new covenant. This post explains more about these important commands of Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)

I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another – John 13:34 (AMP)

Many people emphasize on the importance of the Ten Commandments, and they should, but the truth is that following the three greatest commandments of Jesus fully takes care of the Ten Commandments.

In the Old Testament if you break one commandment you have broken all (James 2:10), but in the New Testament when you obey the three commands of Jesus, you will automatically obey all the Ten Commandments of God. Now, what are these three commandments?

The Greatest commandments of Jesus

1.       Love God with all your being

Jesus said that this is the first and great commandment. You are to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. This means that God is to be number one on your priority list, every other thing should come after God. And to love God is to obey all His commandments: including the Ten Commandments. God is to dictate your thoughts, words and actions. In summary, breathe God!

2.       Love your neighbor as yourself

Again, Jesus called this the second commandment. And James called it the royal law, (James 2:8). You are to love your neighbor as you love yourself. What you won’t have done to you, don’t do to anybody. This takes care of the Ten Commandments: thou shall not steal, kill, covet or commit adultery, etc. That is, if you love your neighbor you will not do any evil to him or her; instead you will cherish and protect him or her as you would yourself.

3.       Love the brethren

Now, Jesus called this a new commandment. This is because it addresses Christians (followers of Christ) and Christ had not come on earth at the time of the Ten Commandment. By this command everyone will know that we are Christ’s disciples, if we love one another as Christ loves us (John 13:35). We are the epistles the world reads about Christ (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) and so, when we love one another we show them the love of God, which will attract them to Jesus. They would want to have what you have, that is Jesus. This commandment of Jesus glories God. Therefore, when there is strife, bitterness and hatred, etc in the church, we fail and dishonor God.

In conclusion, the success of your Christian faith lies on your obedience to these greatest commandments of Jesus. They show how important it is to God that people walk in love. When you practice the love of God that has been shed in your heart by the Holy Spirit these commands will become easier for you to obey.

Whoever loves knows God for God is love, (1 John 4:8). Also, remember God’s commandments are not burdensome, (1 John 5:3). So make the love of God your quest today.

How easy is it to obey these commandments?

Ngozi Nwoke

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 Image by Will Humes