The Greatest Commandment

By R. Cody Smith

From Footsteps, November 11, 2003

Some years ago I had heard a story about a famous South-American preacher. One of his church elders approached him after the service one day and very tactfully called his attention to the fact that he had just succeeded in preaching the same message two Sundays in a row. With a twinkle in his eye the preacher responded, “I know, and I’m going to keep on preaching it until we all start doing it.” 

      There was something about the directness of this approach that appealed to me. I don’t get called on to preach often, and that’s usually fine with me. It’s not really my gifting and it takes me forever to prepare a message. This new strategy would suit me just fine. 

      I carefully choose the subject of my message from Mark 12:28-34.

       “When asked by one of the teachers of the law, “Of all the commandments which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O’ Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

      The teacher of the law responded that Jesus was correct, these things certainly were more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices. When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” His obedience to the commandment would then be his important next step into kingdom life. 

      It was a hit. I preached everywhere I went, over and over again. At one church I had the entire congregation responding in chorus every time I asked; and what is the most important commandment? Then I proceeded to tell them to find that verse in their Bible, tear the page out, and carry it with them always. The rest of the Bible wouldn’t do them much good anyway until they began to understand and obey this, the greatest commandment of all.

      Ok, I know it’s an over simplification, but the idea of me actually tearing up a Bible before their eyes certainly got their attention, and created an indelible word picture that I’m certain they still remember today.

      Of course this was not a new commandment that Jesus was preaching, all present were Jews and they knew he was simply quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. It was time for the Israelites to go on and cross and Jordan into the Promised Land, the older generation had died in the desert, and Moses himself would not be going with them. They needed to be reaffirmed in their covenant relationship with God as Moses passed on the leadership of God’s people to Joshua. 

     Moses’ last sermon to Israel went on to say: “These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 

      This portion (Duet 6:4-9) later became known as the Shema of Israel and is still recited daily by pious Jews today. The same words are carefully written on tiny scrolls and placed in receptacles. These Mezuzah, are then attached to the right-hand doorframes of Jewish homes as a continuing reminder of what Moses said is important. Since Jesus said so too, shouldn’t it also be important to us, God’s adopted people? 

      In this short verse is found the essence of discipleship. We study with our mind to know about god, then by the strength of our will we obey what we have learned. This experience with God will then give us the courage to do, that which is more difficult. 

      Our human nature is to love ourselves above all things, but this self-love must cease if we are to be able to love God with all our heart. Sometimes referred to as dying to self, this is the essential transformation from, it’s all about me¾to¾it’s all about Jesus. For a long time I found this whole idea really terrifying. I had made a considerable investment in the construct called Cody; the idea of killing him off was unsettling to say the least. 

      At some unknown point I realized that it was really the only way left open to me, I certainly couldn’t go back. I had experienced God’s faithfulness and understood that for every resurrection a death must occur. Of course I dragged my feet a little, but once I began it simply seemed like most natural thing to do. They call it sweet surrender.

      If you know me personally, then you also know that a large part of me is still struggling with my flesh. It’s not that the process is complete by any means; but that I have given my irrevocable consent that it should continue to the end. 

      I don’t miss the old Cody, not even a bit. I guess that’s because the new one reminds me a little bit of Jesus. Perhaps now I can begin to comprehend the second most important commandment¾love your neighbor as yourself.

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