THE GREATEST

COMMAND

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Certain commands are more important than others.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay

tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the

weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.

These you ought to have done, without leaving the others

undone” (Matt 23:23).

A lawyer asked Jesus what was the greatest command (Matt

22:36).

Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5.

Tonight, we wish to explore "The Greatest Command."

vv 1-3

Fear God

Moses uses three different words for God’s instructions.

“Commandment” refers to the conditions of God's covenant

with the Israelites.

The root for the word “statutes” refers to cutting or engraving

upon stone.

“Judgments” refers to the just claims of God.

God commanded Moses to teach these instructions.

God still uses man to communicate His will.

An angel instructed Philip to go to the Ethiopian eunuch.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor 4:7).

Moses taught these statutes so that the Israelites could

fear God.

The idea of “fearing God” is respecting Him.

Fearing God includes keeping all His statutes.

Moses taught these commands so that Israel would be

careful to do them.

They could not be haphazard in their obedience.

If the Israelites were careful to obey God, things would go

well with them.

vv 4-5

Love God

The LORD of the Israelites is one God.

Throughout Scripture, God emphasizes that He is one.

There is “one God and Father of all” (Eph 4:6).

“There is one God” (1 Tim 2:5).

The Israelites were to love God with their entire being.

God is to be first in our lives.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the

one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and

despise the other” (Matt 6:24).

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt

6:33).

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and

mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his

own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:26).

vv 6-9

Teach God

The words Moses instructed the Israelites were to be on

their hearts.

God’s word must be in our hearts.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”

(Col 3:16).

Notice that God does not force His will on us—“Let…”

The Israelites were to teach God’s commands diligently

to their children.

“Diligently” comes from a word meaning “repeat.”

Parents have no greater responsibility than teaching their

children God.

“You, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring

them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

“I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which

dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and

I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Tim 1:5).

Are you obedient to

the commands of

God?