The Greatest Commandment: How the Sh’ma Leads to More Love in Your Life

by Irene Lipson

Publisher:

Messianic Jewish Publishers

, 2007

Overview

“What is the greatest commandment?” Yeshua was asked. His reply was twofold. His first response is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding, and all your strength. And his second is this: You are to love your neighbor as yourself. Yeshua (Jesus) saw this central creed of the Jewish people to be the most essential of all the commandments in the Bible. Why? Because it teaches about love—love for God, love for humanity, love for family, all so needed in today’s world. Now, Irene Lipson, has written a superb book explaining each word of this lofty statement so it can be fully grasped and lived. Her depth of understanding of Hebrew opens up new insight into The Greatest Commandment.

Contents

Top Highlights

“The three paragraphs that comprise the whole Sh’ma are, however, more than a simple declaration of belief. They incorporate a demand of personal response—primarily of love. Love, in its turn, requires allegiance, and obedience to certain mitzvot (commands). It has always been a tenet of Judaism that doing is of more value than believing. We demonstrate our love by the things that we do, the way we conduct ourselves.” (Page xvii)

“There is an important lesson in the Sh’ma for all of us. Faith begins with belief that there is a God—but this alone is not enough. It is necessary to be in relationship with that God. He wishes to be ‘our’ God, ‘my’ God. More than that—what he has done for us calls for a response of love. Love without action is empty. Real love leads to action, to a life lived in obedience to his will, as revealed in the Scriptures—his Word. These are the principles enshrined in the Sh’ma.” (Page xxiii)

“When God speaks, however, the words are believable, because the speaker is trustworthy. Do the words I am listening to match up with the character of a holy God, with the words I can read in the Scriptures? That is how we may know who is speaking. The answer is not to switch off, but to learn and practice discernment.” (Page 8)

“The implication is that God still speaks today. His words never date, never grow irrelevant. Whoever we are, whatever time and space we inhabit, he speaks right into our situation. We are the losers if we do not listen.” (Page 4)

“We have truly heard only if we intend in our hearts to act on the words. ‘On the intention of the heart depends the validity of the words’ (Ber. 15a).” (Page 3)

Product Details

• Title: The Greatest Commandment: How the Sh’ma Leads to More Love in Your Life
• Author: Irene Lipson
• Publisher: Messianic Jewish Publishers
• Print Publication Date: 2007
• Logos Release Date: 2008
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Religion; Messianic Judaism
• ISBNs: 9781880226360, 1880226367
• Resource ID: LLS:GRCOMSHMA
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:21:19Z

About Irene Lipson

Irene Lipson was persuaded to follow the Messiah through the wonders of creation. She worked in London and married Eric Lipson, a Messianic Jew from an Orthodox background. Irene delights in her many grandchildren and in her garden.