What is the greatest commandment? This was a question posed to Jesus in the New Testament and his response was incredible. In this lesson plan students will summarize the two greatest commandments according to Jesus Christ and think of ways they can live out those commandments today.
The format for the lesson is a simplified version of Lectio Divina Lesson Planning called The RE3 Framework: Read, Reflect, and Respond. Learn more about The RE3 Framework here.
Greatest Commandment Lesson Objectives
- Students will be able to (SWBAT) paraphrase the two greatest commandments.
- SWBAT explain the ways they have lived and need to live the greatest commandments.
- Students will feel determined to live out the greatest commandments in their lives today.
Read
Read this Scripture story about the Greatest Commandment:
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:34-40
Then watch this video:
Have students complete this graphic organizer worksheet as they watch the video:
Download the Greatest Commandments Video Graphic Organizer >
Reflect
Ask students to reflect on the ways they have loved God and loved their neighbor lately.
Give the students this Greatest Commandment Worksheet to help them reflect on the two greatest commandments:
Download the Greatest Commandments Worksheet >
Both of these worksheets are normally only available to premium members of The Religion Teacher.
Respond
The Greatest Commandment quotes a prayer called the Shema, which Jesus would have prayed every day of his life. Invite the students to pray together the Shema:
Hear, O Israel:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Amen.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
