The Greatest Commandment^(A)

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law^(B) 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.^{[a] 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.’^{[b](C) 31} The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c](D) There is no commandment greater than these.”

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.^{(E) 33} To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(F)

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”^(G) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.^(H)

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[a](A) 5} Love^(B) the Lord your God with all your heart^(C) and with all your soul and with all your strength.^{(D) 6} These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.^(E)

¹⁸ And the Lord drove out^(A) before us all the nations,^(B) including the Amorites, who lived in the land.^(C) We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.^(D)”

¹⁹ Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God;^(E) he is a jealous God.^(F) He will not forgive^(G) your rebellion^(H) and your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake the Lord^(I) and serve foreign gods, he will turn^(J) and bring disaster^(K) on you and make an end of you,^(L) after he has been good to you.”

²¹ But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

²² Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses^(M) against yourselves that you have chosen^(N) to serve the Lord.”

“Yes, we are witnesses,^(O)” they replied.

²³ “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods^(P) that are among you and yield your hearts^(Q) to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”^(R)

⁶ yet for us there is but one God,^(A) the Father,^(B) from whom all things came^(C) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,^(D) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came^(E) and through whom we live.

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!^(A) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[a]”^(B)