Q10: Why Love is the Greatest Commandment

Question

Why is love the greatest commandment?

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.

—Romans 13:8-10 NASB

Context

When Jesus was asked what 'the greatest commandment in the Law' is, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 (see Matthew 22:35-39). He noted that 'on these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets' (v 40). His shortest summary of what constitute the Law and the Prophets was (i.e., the whole teaching of the Hebrew Bible): 'In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you' (Matthew 7:12). This famous saying is known as the Golden Rule and widely applied. A similar statement is found in Jewish sources of the same time period. The renown Jewish scholar Hillel the Elder, grandfather of Paul's teacher Gamaliel, was asked to quote the whole Torah while standing on one leg. His statement that summarised the Law was, 'What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour; the rest is commentary, go and learn it.'

In the same way, Paul saw love as the fulfilment of the Law of God, expressed in positive action towards others. He quoted Leviticus 19:18 as the summary of the laws of Exodus 20 (Romans 13:8-10). Paul did so in the context of believers having a right relationship to and understanding of government (vv 1-7) and the urgency of holy living according to God's will in view of human accountability before God (vv 11-14).

Answer

From the hundreds of commandments in the Torah, Jesus pointed to two as the most important. The 'great and foremost commandment' (Matthew 22:38) is Deuteronomy 6:5, yet Leivicitus 19:18 'is like it' (Matthew 22:39) in importance and relevance. Paul (Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14) and James (James 2:8) quoted Leviticus as being of central importance. James called it the 'royal law.' Peter wrote of the importance of believers being 'fervent in your love for one another' (1 Peter 4:8) and John emphasised the centrality of love, for 'God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him' (1 John 4:16). The love of God is to 'keep His commandments' (5:3). We are to be 'rooted and grounded in love' and 'walk in love' as God's beloved children and imitators of God (Ephesians 3:14-19; 5:1-2) and put on love as 'the perfect bond of unity' (Colossians 3:14). Indeed, everything we do should be 'done in love' (1 Corinthians 16:14). Jesus' disciples, the community of faith, should be known by the love amongst them (John 13:34-35).

The central aspect of love in biblical teaching is of utmost importance, demonstrated in the love of God for humanity in giving His Son to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16), demonstrating His love for sinners by providing atonement for sinners (Romans 5:6-8) and reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; see A8) through the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 2:2; see A7). God loves humanity (John 3:16) and we are to express that same love towards others (1 John 3:16). Loving God and loving people is the fundamental attitude and motivation for a healthy society: our relationship towards God and towards our fellow human beings should be based on and expressed in love.

In understanding what love in the biblical sense is, we need to look at context in Scripture. There are different ways to interpret and express love, yet the Bible has its own, clearly defined meaning—and that is the one we are pursuing.

'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.'

—Deuteronomy 6:5

This commandment given through Moses followed the central statement of faith in Judaism: 'Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!' (Deuteronomy 6:4). It's called the Shema, from the Hebrew word 'hear.' Its content promotes the idea that Yahweh is Israel's God ('our God')—and no other gods besides Him—and that He is 'one' (monotheism, not pagan polytheism). Judaism promotes ethical monotheism: God is one and He lays out laws for humanity as Creator. Mark recorded how Jesus quoted the Shema (Mark 12:29) before quoting the two most important before laws in the Torah (vv 30-31). Moses emphasised the importance of God's commandments and obedience towards them; God's people are to 'do' and 'keep' them 'that it might be well with you' (vv 1-3). God had given them a promise through their forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), and in response to His goodness, they are to keep His commandments. He is the one true God (v 4) and love is (v 5), in the words of Jesus, 'the great and foremost commandment' (Matthew 22:38).

Love is to be the motivating factor in our relationship with and obedience to God. Jesus affirmed this principle (see John 14:15). All the commandments Moses gave the children of Israel (Exodus 20; repeated in Deuteronomy 5), are to be kept in their hearts and expressed in their daily lives, as well as diligently taught to their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Blessings will follow and God's promises will be fulfilled (vv 8-25). A healthy reverence towards God (v 2) is also important, so a wrong understanding of love won't lead to compromise with sin or some flimsy definition. Love is the greatest commandment because it relates to God in an appropriate way and treats others with dignity, fairness and goodness—love is the window of hope for humanity.

'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.'

—Leviticus 19:18 (emphasis added)

When Jesus (Matthew 22:39), Paul (Romans 13:9) and James (2:8) quoted Leviticus 19:18, they quoted the second part of the verse. The context of loving one's neighbour starts with forgiveness and turning away from bitterness: no vengeance, no grudge, instead love, and by implication forgiveness that leads to reconciliation and peace (Leviticus 19:18a). There should be no hatred in our hearts towards others (v 17). We cannot love with hatred, unforgiveness and resentment in our hearts. Correcting wrong-doing is in order, but with a constructive and reconciliatory attitude to establish peace. Neither should we slander others or act against them (v 16), nor pervert justice by unfair judgment (v 15). A deaf man shall not be cursed (he can't hear it), a blind man shall not be made to stumble (he can't see the obstacle in front of him). In order words, weaknesses in others shall not be exploited; it would be contrary to love. Nobody should be oppressed, robbed or exploited (vv 13-14). Stealing, dealing falsely or lying are offences against our neighbours (v 11), and so is profaning, or misusing, the Name of God (v 12). Greed and neglecting the poor and needy are not according to God's will (vv 9-10), neither are they an expression of God's love. It is God's love that should govern all our behaviour at a fundamental level. 'There is no other commandment greater than these (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18b), according to Jesus (Mark 12:31b).

When Paul emphasised the importance and centrality of love, he made clear that loving others is fulfilling the law of God (Romans 13:8). The commandments, such that prohibit adultery, murder, theft or covetousness, are 'summed up' in the one commandment to love our neighbour (v 9). The conclusion is: 'love does no wrong to a neighbor' (v 10a), and the explanation why love is the greatest commandment is because 'love is the fulfilment of the law' (v 10b). Living our lives by the 'royal law' (James 2:8), will prevent discriminating others based on financial or societal status (vv 1-7) and becoming arrogant and judgmental towards others (vv 9-13). Mercy should rule our hearts and conduct towards others as we live in the law of liberty. Loving others is the true expression of divine freedom from sin and its destructive power (Galatias 5:13-14). The fruit of the Spirit (vv 22-23), in contrast to the works of sinful human behaviour (vv 19-21), is expression of God's love by believers who are guided by God's Spirit. His Spirit sheds God's love in our hearts as an expression of hope despite difficult circumstances (Romans 5:1-5). Love is the window of hope for humanity to treat each other with dignity, fairness and goodness!

'Love never fails.' Paul wrote these words to a divided church as he sought to unite them in Christ and His love. Divine love is not a vague concept; it is an active and clearly defined power.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails... now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

—1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

Patience, kindness, humility, decency, peace, forgiveness, truth, endurance, faith, hope and love are beautiful words that describe divine love. These are attributes that express divine love. Paul opened his description of divine love with the consideration that although one may have great gifts, powerful faith or sacrificial action, without love all these are nothing (vv 1-3). Jesus was motivated by love. Greater love has no one than to lay down his or her life for others (John 15:13). Jesus did that out of love. He demonstrated the love of God in action. He neither condoned sin, nor condemned sinners (e.g., John 8:1-11). Jesus didn't come to justify sin; He died to justify sinners. As the Light of the world (v 12), He showed the true way to live: in love and righteousness. In a world where many are judgmental and all too quick to 'throw stones' at others, Jesus showed a better way: love and righteousness. Jesus protected the sinful woman, yet instructed her to leave her sinful ways: 'go and sin no more.' Divine love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love without truth loses divine righteousness; truth without love promotes harsh legalism.

In a world of selfishness, greed and arrogance, love is the antidote to the decay of morality in society. Many people are 'lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant... haters of good... lovers of pleasure' (2 Timothy 3:1-4). Divine love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). God's people are to 'pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart' (2 Timothy 2:22). Love seeks purity of heart, for the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8). As children of God we are to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' (Romans 13:14a), that is, live in Him and walk like Him, and not live in the sinfulness of human 'flesh' and 'lusts' (v 14b), that is, living according to sinful impulses rather than according to God's laws. Loving God is to obey His commandments; loving people is to treat them well. Paul's language of 'the night is almost over, and the day is near' (v 12a) speaks of God holding people morally accoutnable. Salvation is near for those who believe in Christ, hence Christians should not be spiritually asleep (v 11) and waste their lives in 'drunkenness,' sexual sin, or strife and jealousy (v 13a). We are to live with the 'armor of light' (v 12) and live in the light according to the will of God (Ephesians 5:8-17). Love is the way of light. Light speaks of biblical morality; darkness speaks of human sinfulness.

We may point out that the question brought forth to Jesus regarding the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:35-36) took place in a hostile environment. It was not His disciples or curious Jews asking; it was His enemies (v 34). Jesus had just delivered some of the strongest statements and parables against the corrupt leaders from all sorts of different religious groups (21:23, 45-46; 22:15-16, 23, 34), and was about to be arrested, condemned and crucified. Despite the present time of hostility against Him and the impending death on the cross, Jesus would remain focused on the importance and cetrality of love. Paul, too, suffered greatly for preaching the message of love and salvation, yet he stuck to love as the 'more excellent way,' love beig 'the greatest' of all attributes (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:13).

Love is, and remains, the greatest commandment.

Conclusion

Love is the greatest commandment because it is the right way to relate to God and fellow human beings. Loving God and loving others is the best way to ensure a healthy life and society. Love does no harm to others, but extends dignity, fairness and goodness towards others, and therefore fulfils the Law of God. It is beneficial for an individual and society to live according to the commandments of God expressed in love, mercy and righteousness.

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