2024.12.18 - Observations - In Matthew 22.37-40 and Mark 12.29-34, Jesus said in response to challenges that the - first and greatest commandment {Matthew 22.38} - most important {Mark 12.29} - is to love God with everything we've got - He then went on to talk about the second, "love your neighbor as yourself" - About these two, Jesus said: - All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” {Matthew 22.40} - No other commandment is greater than these {Mark 12.31} - There is actually a "preamble" to these two commandments, which Jesus included in the first in the Mark version, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One." {Mark 12.29} - In the past, I have merged these two / three together into a single commandment. However, as of this writing, I see there are actually three commandments and one statement. - Command #1 - Hear O Israel - Statement - God is One - Command #2 - Love ... God - Command #3 - Love ... neighbor - So What - I'm not sure there is any significance to these observations - However, Jesus did order them, first and second. So, there must be something there. - 777 - Father, please explain!