As one stumbles into this exchange, one immediately begins to associate the word 'commandment', and the Jews, with the big ten delivered by Moses. I was surprised to find, in a quick check, that the two great commandments actually come from different sources, and represent a collective amalgamation of general opinion. It stands that these two concepts summarize the Yin and Yang of the Ten Commandments and represent two interconnected spirits of the law working hand in hand.
The first concept is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” This concept epitomizes the first actual commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” as well as all subsequent commandments that deal with the individual's relationship with God.
The second concept is found in Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord.” This concept epitomizes all the commandments that deal with an individual's relationship to other people. These two concepts, combined, are viewed as the spirit of the law. What does Jesus say about these two core concepts? Matthew 22:40, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
The great commandment is a 'two-part' commandment. 'Love your God/love your neighbor' is the whole of it. For mankind, it stands as the prime constant that binds us, that binds us. It is our moral compass upon which must be based all of our judgments and higher prejudices. We must give all to our god, but by the same token we cannot give any less to those around us than we would give to ourselves. For man, there can be no 'Holy War' against our neighbors, no 'Jihad'. There may only be a Holy compassion. There can be no 'business as usual', for that must dissolve to allow brotherly love to address the needs of the people.
Love is the definition here, more than love, a connected love. I would like to conclude with this from Wikipedia: Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote,
This is the first and great commandment - It is so,
1. In its antiquity, being as old as the world, and engraven originally on our very nature.
2. In dignity; as directly and immediately proceeding from and referring to God.
3. In excellence; being the commandment of the new covenant, and the very spirit of the Divine adoption.
4. In justice; because it alone renders to God his due, prefers him before all things, and secures to him his proper rank in relation to them.
5. In sufficiency; being in itself capable of making men holy in this life, and happy in the other.
6. In fruitfulness; because it is the root of all commandments and the fulfilling of the law.
7. In virtue and efficacy; because by this alone God reigns in the heart of man, and man is united to God.
8. In extent; leaving nothing to the creature, which it does not refer to the Creator.
9. In necessity; being absolutely indispensable.
10. In duration; being ever to be continued on earth, and never to be discontinued in heaven.
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