Grace Thompson
The greatest commandment in Catholicism is to love and obey God, and to love one's neighbour as oneself. This is exemplified in the Gospel, where Jesus is asked by a scribe which commandment is the greatest. Jesus replies that the first commandment is to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that the second is to love one's neighbour as oneself. This statement is a summary of the moral law found in the Ten Commandments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Greatest commandment | Love God |
| Greatest commandment number 2 | Love your neighbour as yourself |
| Greatest commandment number 2, alternative | Love your neighbour |
| What the commandments are not | Thou shalt not lie, kill, commit adultery, steal |
| What the commandments are | Thou shalt not commit adultery, theft, idolatry, murder, kidnapping, favouritism, rape |
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What You'll Learn
Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
According to the Bible, when a scribe asked Jesus which commandment was the most important, Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is considered the first and greatest commandment in the Catholic faith.
Loving God with all your heart involves striving for purity of heart, as Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God." This means that those who are pure in heart will be able to experience God's presence and rejoice in it for eternity.
Loving God with all your soul requires complete devotion and self-giving. It means holding nothing back and loving God with all your being. This is a radical call to love, which can be challenging to fulfil.
Loving God with all your mind highlights the importance of thoughtfulness in love. It means using our intellect and discernment to understand and live out our faith. It also involves making good judgments, distinguishing between true and false, and seeking truth in our love.
Loving God with all your strength implies a call to action and a commitment to put our love for God into practice through obedience to His commandments.
By following these commandments, Catholics believe they can find happiness and holiness in life, as they walk in the presence of the Lord and spread love to those around them.
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Love your neighbour as yourself
In the Catholic faith, the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength". The second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself".
Loving one's neighbour is a biblical concept found in both the Old and New Testaments. In Leviticus 19:18, the Lord tells Israel: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord."
Jesus Christ reinforced this commandment when a scribe asked him which commandment was the most important. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus replied: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
Loving one's neighbour is not about being accommodating to whatever they believe is in their best interest. Instead, it is about advancing their good. This means treating others as you would like to be treated, showing mercy, and being fair. It is also about telling one's neighbour the truth, as love and truth are a conjoined reality in Scripture.
Loving one's neighbour as oneself is a radical call to give of oneself completely and without reserve, holding nothing back.
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The greatest commandments summarise the moral law
The greatest commandments are a cornerstone of Catholic teaching and are believed to summarise the moral law. The first and greatest commandment is to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'. The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'.
These two commandments are considered the greatest because all other commandments are believed to stem from them. If you love God, you will not commit adultery, theft, idolatry, murder, kidnapping, favouritism, or rape, because these acts would be in violation of God's laws. Similarly, if you love your neighbour, you will not hate, judge, discriminate, or refuse to serve or help them.
The greatest commandments are not separate from the Ten Commandments. Rather, they are a prism through which to understand them. God's will is not complex or difficult to comprehend—it is about love. However, it is not enough to simply keep the commandments; Catholics are called to a radical life of true love and charity, giving of themselves completely and without reserve.
The greatest commandments are also a reminder that God is not a capricious lawgiver. He is not arbitrary or whimsical, and His commandments are not mere whims. He is faithful to Himself and to His nature as a God of Truth, Faithfulness, and Life.
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The greatest commandments are not separate from the Ten Commandments
Jesus's response to the question about the greatest commandment was so profound that the other rabbis and teachers in Israel praised it. His answer was not just a clever response to a theological debate but a profound statement about the nature of God's relationship with humanity and vice versa.
The first three commandments are about loving God above all and with all our might, and the last six commandments are about loving our neighbour. By loving God and our neighbour, we will not commit adultery, theft, idolatry, murder, kidnapping, favouritism, rape, and so on. In other words, we will be fulfilling the Ten Commandments.
Therefore, the greatest commandments are not separate from the Ten Commandments but are integral to them. By loving God and our neighbour, we fulfil the Ten Commandments and live in accordance with God's nature and will.
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The greatest commandments are a radical call to love
The greatest commandments in Catholic theology are a radical call to love. This is exemplified in the Gospel, where Jesus is asked by a scribe, "which is the first of all the commandments?". In response, Jesus states: "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
Jesus' response is a powerful summary of the moral law found in the Ten Commandments. It is a call to love God above all and with one's entire being—heart, soul, mind, and strength. This love for God is so encompassing that it naturally overflows into love for one's neighbour. This love is not just a feeling but a way of life, requiring complete self-giving and service to others.
The radical nature of these commandments is further emphasised by their contrast with the world's understanding of love. In a world where hate, judgement, discrimination, and refusal to help others exist, these commandments call for a transformative love that transcends human limitations. This love is not based on emotion but on a conscious decision to obey God and fulfil his command to love one's neighbour.
By fulfilling these two commandments, one fulfils not just the Ten Commandments but also the 613 commandments of the Torah. Loving God and neighbour is not separate from the rest of God's commandments. For example, one cannot claim to love God and simultaneously kill, commit adultery, steal, or lie. Thus, the greatest commandments provide a foundation for understanding and obeying all of God's commandments.
The call to love is central to Catholic teaching, and it is through love that one can truly live out their faith and draw closer to God and their neighbour. This love is not just a suggestion but a command, and it is in obeying this command that one finds true life and salvation.
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Frequently asked questions
The two greatest commandments are to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.
To love God means to love him with "all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind".
Loving your neighbour means helping "all the people of this earth" and not discriminating against anyone.
These commandments are considered the greatest because they summarise the moral law found in the Ten Commandments.
