The Second Greatest Commandment

Mark 12:28-31


"Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"


"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

I have been pondering these verses now for several weeks and have discovered a couple things in the process of doing so. The first is that God has given us a commandment to love Him with ALL of our heart, soul and strength. I would like to think that I have done a pretty decent job at accomplishing this commandment. I desperately love God the father and His precious Son Jesus. My life’s story is a testament to His love, mercy and grace.

The second critical truth that I have discovered while meditating on these scriptures is that the second greatest commandment is to love my neighbor as myself. Deep breath… This one gets me. I have had to come face to face with myself on this one, love my neighbor as myself?

I was forced to ask myself this question “How do I love myself?” The answer was not one that I cared for. I’m very critical and put unrealistic expectations upon myself often. I can find the bad before the good most of the time and I am very driven to succeed in whatever I do. I’m not the type that is self demeaning, just a perfectionist to a fault.

This led me to ask the next question “How do I love my neighbor?”

As you may guess, and for those who know me may agree. I love my neighbor the same way I love myself. I can be very critical with others and expect too much. I’m easily disappointed in people when they don’t meet my expectations. I’m absolutely positive that is not the way Jesus wants me to love myself or my neighbor.

I have resolved to love myself differently, to love you, my neighbor differently. The way Jesus describes love is with grace and mercy and that sounds a whole lot better if you ask me.

Ask yourself the same question “How do you love yourself?” You may find that you love your neighbor the same way.

Jesus commands us to love ourselves and to love our neighbor. It’s the second greatest commandment next to loving God with all of our heart, soul and strength.