The Great Commandment

The change from “strength” (Deu 6.5) to “understanding” (Mat 22.37) is of interest. (“understanding” seems to be a better translation of “διανοίᾳ” than “mind” in the verses cited below. Darby and Young agree for Mat 22.37.) The “first” commandment:

NKJ  Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

BGT  Deuteronomy 6:5 καὶ ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς δυνάμεώς σου

Two further passages in Deut restate a part of the commandment as “to love . and to serve . with . heart and . soul.

NKJ  Deuteronomy 10:12 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

BGT  Deuteronomy 10:12 καὶ νῦν Ισραηλ τί κύριος ὁ θεός σου αἰτεῖται παρὰ σοῦ ἀλλ᾽ ἢ φοβεῖσθαι κύριον τὸν θεόν σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀγαπᾶν αὐτὸν καὶ λατρεύειν κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου

NKJ  Deuteronomy 11:13 `And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

BGT  Deuteronomy 11:13 ἐὰν δὲ ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσητε πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ὅσας ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεόν σου καὶ λατρεύειν αὐτῷ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου

Two further passages in Deut restate a part of the commandment as “to love . with . heart and . soul.

NKJ  Deuteronomy 13:3 "you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

BGT  Deuteronomy 13:4 οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε τῶν λόγων τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου ἢ τοῦ ἐνυπνιαζομένου τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐκεῖνο ὅτι πειράζει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν

NKJ  Deuteronomy 30:6 "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

BGT  Deuteronomy 30:6 καὶ περικαθαριεῖ κύριος τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ σπέρματός σου ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου ἵνα ζῇς σύ

“Understanding” (“διανοίας”), usually translated “mind” in the New Testament passages first shows up in the ancient Jewish translation of the Old Testament in place of the expected “heart”. The ancients used “heart” (“καρδίας”) to refer to the inner man including thoughts as well as feelings. The Septuagint translators seem to think that the context required directing readers toward the mental capacities of the inner man.

NKJ  Joshua 22:5 "But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

BGT  Joshua 22:5 ἀλλὰ φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν σφόδρα τὰς ἐντολὰς καὶ τὸν νόμον ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν ποιεῖν Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς κυρίου ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν πορεύεσθαι πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ φυλάξασθαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκεῖσθαι αὐτῷ καὶ λατρεύειν αὐτῷ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν

The passage in Matthew has to do with our Lord as the promised Messiah. Sadducees, Pharisees, and scribes interrogate Him in order to find some error in His thought that disqualifies Him. There seems to have been some theory current that there was a “great commandment”, superior to the rest, and some controversy about it. Jesus replies with “the first and great commandment and the second …”

As is done elsewhere in the New Testament, the traditional Septuagint translation and other traditional doctrines are used to reveal new truth in a form understandable in the culture. Four changes from the great and first commandment of Moses are to be noted.

1. This is the great commandment in a form that transcends dispensations, particularly that of the law.

2. “Strength” (“ἰσχύος”) is omitted. (As it is in other Old Testament passages about loving and/or serving God.) Dependency upon “strength” came in with law. Israel was only too human and aspired to a covenant of works. (“And all the people answered together and said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do.” - Exo 19:8).

3. “Understanding” (“διανοίας”) (or “mind”) is added. This appears to be also a current tradition. The Septuagint’s translation of Joshua is pertinent. “Jesus” is Greek for “Joshua”. Joshua is a type, I believe, not only of our Lord, but also of His body, the church. Joshua’s understanding was based upon memorization, recitation, meditation, and study of scripture (Jos 1.8).

4. “In all” (“ἐν ὅλῃ ”) is substituted for “out of all” (“ἐξ ὅλης ”) in all three places. (Such substitution also occurs in Luke 10.27, perhaps showing current usage. Othe verses herein use “out of” exclusively.). The usual translation of both Greek prepositions in these verses as “with” obscures this significant distinction. The distinction is consistent with the indwelling of the Spirit in the church dispensation and the circumcision of the heart (and related new heart of flesh) in the millennial dispensation. (These individual spiritual millennial blessings may also apply in the post apostolic church.)

A related common problem with our current translations of these verses is the use of “your” instead of “the” for the Greek article after each occurrence of the word “all”. The Hebrew contains “thy” as a second person masculine singular noun suffix in these places. But the substitution of “the” in the Septuagint seems to be affirmed as special providence by New Testament quotation. Works religion is dependent on one’s own capacities. But faith religion in all dispensations implies spiritually enhanced and aided capacities. Best to depend on “the” capacities and not our capacities.

NKJ  Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, "`You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

BGT  Matthew 22:37 ὁ δὲ ἔφη αὐτῷ· ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου·

Mark is the gospel that has a focus on our Lord as the Servant of God. Christ was born under the law of Moses. The question is “which is the first commandment of all” and our Lord’s answer appears to be in accord with the current traditions.  Deut 6.5 is “first” in that it is at the beginning of the instructions {or covenant) for inhabiting the promised land. And that it is preceded by the important verse (which Jesus repeats) “Hear, oh Israel, thy God is One.” (It should be noted that Jesus adds, after reciting “the second”: “There is no other commandment greater than these.”)

NKJ  Mark 12:30 `And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.

BGT  Mark 12:30 καὶ ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου.

The scribe agrees with the answer to his question. (With the exception that “understanding” (or “mind”) is moved closer to its probable source as an alternative for “heart” in the Septuagint’s Joshua. The almost universal use of my preferences in this one verse by English translations is possibly due to an attempt to portray the scribe as overly pedantic or to improve grammar. They have stumbled into the truth: “the” not “your”, “understanding” not “mind”.

NKJ  Mark 12:33 "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

BGT  Mark 12:33 καὶ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν αὐτὸν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς συνέσεως καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος καὶ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν τὸν πλησίον ὡς ἑαυτὸν περισσότερόν ἐστιν πάντων τῶν ὁλοκαυτωμάτων καὶ θυσιῶν.

It is of interest that the scribe whose questions lead to the parable of the good Samaritan uses an interesting variation of the Greek prepositions in Luke 10.27.

For him, it is “out of” the heart and “in” soul, strength, and understanding. Like many in our century, he seems to feel that if you have the right affections the rest will follow. No wonder he misunderstood the question: “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The right answer is all three. All should be loved. But those who are hooked on works religion must generally be allowed to go their way. Until they come to their senses, or not.

NKJ  Luke 10:27 So he answered and said, "`You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and`your neighbor as yourself.'"

BGT  Luke 10:27 ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης [τῆς] καρδίας σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ἰσχύϊ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου, καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.

The texts above were rather easily captured on Bible Works 9. A verse list was set up by a search on “.love heart soul” in NKJ – New King James and a copy of resulting references. The list of references was then used with NKJ as search and BGT (Bible Works Greek New Testament plus Septuagint) as display to output the texts used above into an editor. This document was prepared on a starter version of Word 2010. It incorporates some very useful clipboard copy paste improvements.