Jesus regularly had people asking Him questions to test Him. On one of these occasions, a lawyer approached Him and asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36).
Depending on how Jesus answered, His words could have been twisted to portray some commandments as being unimportant. Then, they could accuse Him of teaching people to disobey the Law. Yet Jesus answered: “‘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 foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
This was the perfect answer because it actually included the entire Law. He said, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Loving God includes doing His will. Loving others means we will seek to do good and not harm them. Everything we are told to do in God’s word will fall under one or both categories.
So remember the greatest commandments. We are to love God and love others. If we do these things, we will please the Lord and be the people He wants us to be.