Which is the first of all the commandments? (Mk 12:28b-34)
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?"
For the devout Jew all the commandments were to be kept with equal care, but there is evidence of preoccupation in Jewish sources with the question put to Jesus. Hillel summarized the whole law thus: “What you hate for yourself do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole law. The rest is commentary. Go and Learn.” Akiba had already taught: “Love your neighbor as yourself. This is the greatest, general principle of the Law.” Simon the Righteous for his part says: “On three things the world stands – on the Law, on the worship, and on the works of love.”
Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!” is the shema. It is the imperative of the verb “to hear”. It is the first word of the sentence. The shema is the creed of Judaism.
Islam has a counterpart, the Shahadah: “I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
“With all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The love of God must engage the total person. This implies that our love for God can not be like that of platonic friendship, without feeling and without passion. Our feelings are important too because our feelings are part of us. And when I say feelings, I don’t mean sentimentality. To illustrate. St. Polycarp was a disciple of St. John. In his old age he was arrested and brought before the judge. This was the exchange between them. But when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, "Swear the oath, and I will release you; revile the Christ," Polycarp said, "Eighty-six years have I been His servant, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" There is feeling and passion here, but no sentimentality.
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
Jesus goes beyond the extent of the question put to him. To the greatest and the first commandment he joins a second, that of love of neighbor (Lev 19:18). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus explains what he meant by neighbor, that is, anyone who is in need even if he were an enemy is a neighbor and should be helped.
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘And 'to love him with all your heart….and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Parable of the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite did not come near the victim for fear that he might be dead. If they touched him, they would be rendered unclean and therefore would not be able to perform their duty of offering sacrifice and burnt offerings. But Jesus agres with the scribe when he says that it was more important to take care of the victim than worry about being unable to offer the temple sacrifices due to uncleanness.
Conclusion
For many it is perhaps easier to love God than a fellowman. After all, God doesn't step on your toes or irritate you with bad breath or body odor. It is perhaps why St. John considers the love of neighbor as the acid test for love of God. He says: “If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1Jn 4:20)
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