Mark 12:28-31
The Greatest Commandment
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."
Jesus teaches the two greatest commandments...In these commandments He teaches us that we are to be social beings... We are to love God first, that is, we are to have a positive relationship with Him...We are to be dependent on Him...We are to trust Him...
This Teaching by Jesus is about togetherness...This Teaching is about fellowship with others...Jesus and God want us to have this togetherness, this fellowship...
Jesus also says to love your neighbor as yourself...We are to have positive relationships with our neighbors, other people...We are to get along with others...But not only to get along with others but to love them as yourself...
What is interesting about these verses are that we at an early age are taught to be independent...We also have traits that make us want to put our happiness first, sometimes excluding others...Sometimes God doesn't give us all the social skills of others who are naturally good at loving and helping others... Jesus teachings go beyond just loving family and friends...The parable of the Good Samaritan, tells us who our neighbors are... And Jesus expects us to be good neighbors, or as He says to love them as yourself...