The Great Commandment

The Pharisees loved to debate which of the 613 commandments (by their count) was the most important. The reason was plain. If one is trying to earn their salvation, then obeying the most important commandment would carry the most merit before God. Jesus shows that this sort of thinking results only in an inverted understanding of God and His laws. Thus, Jesus' answer not only reveals the most important obligation of humanity, but to also show that we are incapable of doing the most important thing of all — and thus commit the greatest sin every day of our lives.