Last week of Jesus' Ministry
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The Great Commandment
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they had a meeting. One of them, a lawyer, went to Jesus with a question.
He asked:
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?
Jesus said:
The first is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength.
This the first and greatest commandment.
The second is connected to it:
You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.
There are no other commandments greater than these. On these two commandments, the entire law and all the prophets rest.
The scribe said:
Teacher you have answered well. To love the Lord with all your heart, your understanding and your strength -- and to love your neighbor as yourself -- is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.
When Jesus heard the lawyer’s answer, he said:
You are not far from the kingdom of God.
After that no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.