Which Is The Great Commandment In The Law?

A lawyer asked Jesus, testing Him, " 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus responded by saying, '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." (1)

The first four of the Ten Commandments are summed up in the one great precept, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart." The last six are included in the other, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Both of these values are an expression of the principle of love. "When God has His rightful place on the throne of the heart, the right place will be given to our neighbor. We shall love Him as ourselves. And only as we love God supremely is it possible to love our neighbor impartially." (2)

These are God's values on which He is building His society.

1. Matthew 22:36-40.
2. Desire of Ages, p. 607.