Matthew Henry sums up the question of which is the great commandment:
Adam Clarke, in his
Commentary on the Bible, wrote: {{quote|This is the first and great commandment. It is "first and greatest":{{ordered list|style=font-size: initial "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" is interpreted by Rabbi
Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz to mean "Act in such a manner that God will be beloved by all His creatures." Consequently,
Israel, being, as the priest-people, enjoined like the
Aaronite priest to sanctify the
name of God and avoid whatever tends to desecrate it (Lev. xxii. 32), is not only obliged to give his life as witness or martyr for the maintenance of the true faith (see Isa. xliii. 12, μάρτυρες; and Pesik. 102b; Sifra, Emor, ix.), but so to conduct himself in every way as to prevent the name of God from being dishonored by non-Israelites. Twice every day (during
Shacharit and
Maariv, the morning and evening prayers) observant Jews recite the
Shema Yisrael, which contains the words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deut. vi. 5). This verse is interpreted by Rabbi Even-Israel Steinsaltz to enjoin him to willingly surrender life and fortune whenever the cause of God demands it, while it at the same time urges him to make God beloved by all his creatures through deeds of kindness, as
Abraham did (Sifre, Deut. 32). Although only asked about the first commandment, Jesus included the second commandment in his answer. This double reference has given rise to differing views with regard to the relationship that exists between the two commandments, although typically "love thy God" is referred to as "the first and greatest commandment", with "love thy neighbor" being referred to as "the second great commandment". ==See also==