Scripture Study Course Reflections by Don Schwager.

Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 (RSV translation)

Love your God - Love your neighbor

Deuteronomy 6:5  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. 
 

The two great commandments

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

1. The Old Testament law listed some 613 precepts (commandments). The first of the ten commandments states that one must worship God alone and not any false idols. Why does Moses command the people to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and might (strength)? How does loving God and worshipping God go together?
   
   
2. Why does Jesus link the command to love God with the command to love one’s neighbor?