28 One of the scribes came, and heard the leaders questioning together. Knowing that Jesus had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.”

Mark 12:28-34 - World English Bible

In Mark 12, a scribe inquired about the "arch-commandment," not only the greatest command in the Torah, but the touchstone of interpretation., the lens through which all the others are given importance. The Lord gave two: love of God above all else and love of neighbor as self. Both of these passages had importance by themselves. The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-6) declared not only one's attitude before YHWH, but one's place at worship, and the importance of passing along that value. As the pinnacle of the Holiness Codes, love of neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) stood within a bible chapter that pronounced the name of YHWH more times than any other chapter in the Scriptures. Jesus took these two passages and welded them together around the word "love." Hear love meant more than a warm feeling; it meant allegiance. A person showed allegiance to God through worship and respect for his creation; he demonstrated allegiance to others through charity. Above all, such love focused on the Other, not only the self. Allegiance, then, stood taller than mere ritual observance, for such allegiance meant commitment, the same type of solidarity found in the disciple who "picks up his cross" and follows the Lord.

How do you show your commitment to God and others?