Practicum Paper 2: The Second Great Commandment
THEO 415-D01
Examining and Applying Biblical and Theological Concepts
Kion D. Bolden (L28280435)
When the Pharisees questioned Jesus in a scheme to test Him saying, “Teacher, which is
the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36 NIV) Jesus, the strategist He is
employed His own Father’s words to the children of Israel in the Old Testament.1 He tells the
Pharisees, “This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:38 NIV) Notice that they
simply asked Him for the greatest commandment in the Law, but Jesus in His infinite wisdom
gave them more. Due to equivalency in their significance, He makes the “greatest” that they
inquired of dual faceted. Thus, He says to them “the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as
yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39 NIV) In Mark’s account, he offers that Jesus makes it clear that “The
Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Mark 12:29 NIV) Then he says, “Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The
second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31NIV) Additionally, Mark
accounts for Jesus stressing to them, “There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark
12:31 NIV)
Luke’s presents the first and second greatest commandments in a different narrative and
from a different angle as he tells us that the “expert in religious law” (Luke 10:25 NLT) inquires
of Jesus asking, “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25 NLT) Jesus
responds to with a rebuttal question, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” He
repels the responsibility of a response and places the weight of the answer on their own
interpretation of the scriptures. The expert responds to Jesus saying, “you must love the Lord
your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.” Then, Jesus supports his response and tells assures him “Do this and you
will live!” (Luke 10:28 NLT) John recorded in his account, “So now I am giving you a new
commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love
1 Johnson, Phil. “The Second Great Commandment.” Tabletalk Magazine, July 1, 2005.
for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-45 NLT). While
similar words are only found in all four Gospels, all four Gospels contain the same great
commandment in different ways as well.
The significance of the second great commandment lies in the fact that it isn’t a new
biblical concept. While Jesus teaches this principle in the New Testament, “the passage is given
in Deuteronomy, being spoken by Moses just after he has imparted the Ten Commandments:
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord. And you shall love the Lord your God with the
whole of your mind and with the whole of your soul and with the whole of your power” (Deut
6:5). Furthermore, the command is repeated or alluded to several times later on in Deuteronomy
(10:12; 11:1,13, 22; 13:4; 19:9; 30:6, 16, 20), and also in Joshua (22:5; 23:11).”2 Thus, we
understand that Jesus had His mission and commission on earth as instructed by His Father. As
He teaches the disciples, “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me
commanded me to say all that I have spoken.” (John 12:49 NIV) The concepts of both the first
and second greatest commandments are similar as they both convey mandate for love. The
Apostle Paul signifies the significance of love in his letter to the church at Corinth:
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a
resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not
have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to
hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1Corinthians 13:1-3
NIV)
2 Kelly, H. A. (2017). LOVE OF NEIGHBOR AS GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE TIME OF JESUS:
GRASPING AT STRAWS IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society,
60(2), 265-281.
Finally, he teaches the hierarchy of love amongst the other attributes saying, “And now these
three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1Corinthians 13:13 NIV)
The first directive is for us to have a sincere love for God, which “sets the foundation for how
man is to live his life vertically, Godwards”3 and the second commands us to have a bountiful
love towards our neighbor, which “sets the foundation for how man is to life his life horizontally,
towards other men.”4
The most effective application of this commandment is to exercise the b portion of the
statement, “as yourself.” Most acknowledge the first half of the commandment about “love your
neighbor,” but the vital aspect of the directive lies within loving oneself. It is impossible to offer
others what we lack within ourselves. Self-value must be recognized and appreciated before one
can genuinely ascribe worth to others. The Apostle Paul instructs us to “put on love.” (Colossians
3:14 NIV) Thus, the implications of putting it on suggests that it is for the wearer first and then
projects outwardly to others. Loving oneself is the initial phase towards developing trust and
stability with others. Love others as we love ourselves is impossible if we don’t love ourselves
because we are empty of it to give. David said, “I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14 NIV) In
conclusion, we must see ourselves as God sees us and love ourselves as God does. Then and only
then will we be able to extend that love to our neighbors.
Bibliography
Adams, J. The Second Greatest Commandment, September 15, 2013
Johnson, Phil. “The Second Great Commandment.” Tabletalk Magazine, July 1, 2005.
3 Adams, J. The Second Greatest Commandment, September 15, 2013.
4 IBID
Kelly, H. A. (2017). LOVE OF NEIGHBOR AS GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE TIME OF
JESUS: GRASPING AT STRAWS IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES. Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society, 60(2), 265-281. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1964552646?accountid=12085
