The Greatest Commandment: a study of the Shema
“Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” An important phrase that would become central to the life of the Israelite. This phrase is referred to as ‘the Shema,’ the Hebrew word for ‘hear.’ As you continue reading, you will come to understand the significance of the Shema, both in the time of Moses and for believers today. The Shema is a call to action and faith, and should not be taken lightly. It is an explanation of how to live out the Law, not by perfectly fulfilling the Law, but by living a life dedicated to loving Yahweh.
Let’s set the scene: Moses is preparing the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land. He has spent a great deal of time repeating and teaching the Law to Israel (Deut. 4-5). Moses summarizes God’s great sovereignty, grace, and deliverance from Israel’s enemies (Deut. 1-3). He reminds the people to depend fully on God to meet their needs, rather than repeating their patterns of disobedience. Moses echoes the Ten Commandments and Law, and emphasizes that God demands obedience. (Deut. 4-5) Now in chapter 6, Moses shifts to share what Jesus later calls the Greatest Commandment: the Shema (ESV 246). The Shema is a simple but profound phrase found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Over the following four verses, Moses demands that the Israelites remember these words, keep reminders of these words on their bodies and around their homes, and teach these words to future generations. This passage is brief, but it is rich with valuable theology lessons for Israel and for us today.
“HEAR O Israel…” (Deut. 6:4a). Starting with the first word of the passage, we can see God’s heart for Israel. The word shema in Hebrew is our English word ‘hear’ or ‘listen,’ but the English language does not fully encompass the true meaning of shema. The Israelites would understand this word to mean hear and obey (Mackey). If you truly listen to God’s commands, you would be compelled to obedience and action. Shema encompasses both hearing and doing what the Lord says. So, these verses are called the Shema because they are a call to obedience– to listen and obey the Lord’s commands by loving Him and aligning our lives with His will. James echos this idea when he writes, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22-25). There is cognative dissonance when you listen to God’s commands but don’t obey.
“The Lord our God, the Lord is one…” (Deut. 6:4). This sentence is counter-cultural to anything the Israelites knew from the surrounding culture about gods and dieties. Moses is reminding them that their God, Yahweh, is not merely a member of the pantheon. God stands alone, because no other spiritual power can even compare. The Lord is one– no other power deserves loyalty. As they enter the land of Canaan, they need to reflect on the power of their God and trust his power over the powers of the world. Matthew Henry writes that God is “a Being infinitely and eternally perfect, self-existent, and self-sufficient.” The Shema reflects this idea. God is one, because he does not need any other gods. He is Lord over all.
Knowing that God is all-sufficient, powerful, and demanding obedience, how is Israel – and how are we – to respond? Verse 5 maps out the proper and natural response. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The best way we can respond well to God is to love him with our entire being. There is nothing more important than surrendering our lives to God, and submitting to His authority over all things. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, referring to it as the Greatest Commandment (Matt. 22:36-40). We cannot follow the Law or shema His commands, if we do not first love the Lord with everything in us. Gary Millar calls this “exclusive allegiance” to God. He says that “God’s rescued people are to listen to him when he says that they owe him—and him alone—everything.”
Verses 6-9 describe exactly what God expects of his people. Moses maps out the ways that the Israelites can treasure the words of the shema, and keep them in tangible places where they will memorize and repeat these words. We know that scripture memory is an excellent way to remind ourselves of God’s promises– but in Deuteronomy 6 this was also a requirement to prove their loyalty to Yahweh. Gary Millar explains that “If Israel is to live well with God in the land, then these words must saturate their national life: they must be passed on from generation to generation; they must dominate conversation in every place and at every time.” How can we ever be loyal to God if we do not know His Word? I love this picture of scripture memory even in these early days. This is an early example of what creates a devoted follower of God.
How can we apply the word of the shema today? Understanding the core of the text is most important. If God is all-powerful, all-sufficient, and infinitely holy, and if God demands that I listen and obey His word, then how can I devote my life to him? By loving Him with my entire being. Matthew Henry maps out four ways that we can love God fully. Firstly, with a sincere love. Love is a choice, and we must choose who we will serve (Joshua 24:14-15). Saying I love you in words only and not in actions, is an empty promise to God. We must be sincere in our devotion to Yahweh. Secondly, We must love with a strong love (Henry). We should love God with all of our being, not just parts. God does not share his attention with other gods, and we should not divide our devotion. We love God with our entirety. Thirdly, we love with a superlative love, loving God about all other creatures (Henry). Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17) and so everything in life that we love, we see as a gift from God. God remains on the highest pedestal in our lives, and every blessing we receive is attributed to him. Lastly, Matthew Henry says we should love with an intelligent love. “To love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, we must know him...” We study and meditate on His word as a means to know God well. You cannot love someone you do not know.
The author of Psalm 119 perfectly summarizes this full surrender to God: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” (Psalm 119:9-10 ESV) After reading Deuteronomy 6:1-9, and knowing that God is revealing himself to us and demands loyalty to himself alone our response should be full, unabandoned love and devotion to him. We will keep his commands and live gospel-centric lives out of complete dependance on God alone.
Works Cited
ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway, 2023.
Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 6." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar, 1996. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Deu/Deu_006.cfm>.
Mackey, Tim. “Watch: The Shema Word Study Video Series.” The Shema Word Study Video Series, Bible Project, bibleproject.com/videos/collections/shema. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025.
Millar, Gary. Deuteronomy: Commentary: Gary Millar, The Gospel Coalition, 5 May 2023, www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Equipped, Chariot Victor Pub, Colorado Springs, Colo, 1999.
