all?” Jesus answered, “The first is: Hear, Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall
love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all
your strength. And after this comes a second commandment: You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these two.”

The teacher of the Law said to him, “Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he
is one, and there is no other besides him. To love him with all our heart, with all our
understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important
than any burnt offering or sacrifice.”

Jesus approved this answer and said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that,
no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflect

The Law found in the Torah (the first five books in our Bible) dedicates many chapters and verses to
the various types of sacrifices that formed the heart of worship at the Jerusalem temple.

There were sacrifices for various times of the day, the month, and the years, as well as sacrifices for
thanksgiving, atonement, and communion. Given the prominence of these sacrifices in the Law, it’s a bit
surprising that a teacher of the Law would state that the two great commandments articulated by Jesus
are more important than any sacrifice.

But this understanding had a long tradition among the Jewish people. The prophets Samuel, Isaiah,
Amos, and Hosea all taught the people that God prefers obedience, righteousness, and charity more
than even the most perfectly celebrated sacrifice. Jesus reiterated that teaching by asking us to love
God and our neighbor above all things. The most beautiful liturgies and novenas are nothing without love.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023