Summary:
On the surface, the two greatest commandments (found in Matthew 22:36-40) call us 1) to love God, and 2) to love others as ourselves.  But they are much deeper than that.

God’s two commands are His guidance for us on how to have a life that is more rewarding, full of purpose and characterized by wholesome relationships with Him and those around us.  That sentence is deeply important – read it again slowly and absorb what it says.  It summarizes all God has to say to us.

The real goal:
The Old Testament times were a time period (“age”) where God was showing us the “rules” if we want to earn our way into Heaven.  They clearly show us that we cannot.  And no loving and wise parent wants their child to think they are only loved when they are being good.  We are now in the age grace where we are learning about love being the focus.  The 10 Commandments were clearly commands because the focus was on rules.  But the two greatest commandments summarize all of them and go a layer deeper in our heart attitude, not just our outward actions.  They expose whether we are seeking and trusting in “self” or truly trusting God and caring about others as much as ourselves.  When we are primarily seeking “self”, it corrupts relationships with both God and those around us.  When we love others as ourselves, it builds relationships.  Note that the 10 Commandments of the Old Testament were “do this” and “don’t do that” statements.  Jesus summarized them into two statements that are about “Love…”

The Greatest Commandment, which summarizes the first four of the ten commandments, surfaces if we really do see God as our all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful Heavenly Father.  While many people do not have a good example of living under wise and loving parents, God is perfectly that.  1 John 4:18-19 says, “… perfect love casts out fear … we love because He first loved us”.  We love Him because we see He is far more loving and wise than us and so we seek, listen to and trust His counsel.  When Jesus walked this earth, He said that He is the exact representation of the Father.  You will notice that Jesus spent His time here counseling, healing and sacrificing Himself for us.  That is what loving and wise parents do.  They counsel, discipline and bless all in an attitude of trying to help us mature so that we can living healthy, purposeful and rewarding lives.

The Second Greatest Commandment, which summarized that last six of the ten commandments, surfaces if we really do love others as much as ourselves.  Jesus gave some examples in Matthew 5 such as:

• Jesus said, “You say you have not committed adultery.  But I say that if you lust after someone, you have already committed adultery in your heart.”  Think about that.  If you are lusting after someone, are you primarily thinking about their good or yours.  Will you project the care and concern for them that builds the relationship or will they figure out that you are more interested in what you can get from them rather than how you care about their needs and desires.  Also, if you have a spouse and start focusing on things someone else does better, that will weaken your relationship with your spouse rather than strengthen it.  What you think manifests itself in your behavior towards others.
• Similarly, Jesus said, “You say you have not committed murder.  But I say that if you hate someone, you have murdered them in your heart.”  Think about that.  There is much division and strife in our world today.  That is because we have lost the desire and ability to build bridges across our differences.  Each of us begins gathering evidence why others are wrong rather than finding ways to talk about our differences.  As we accumulate evidence against the others, we condemn them in our heart and that destroys relationships.

God’s 2 greatest commandments summarize the 10 commandments.  The 10 commandments summarize the 613 commandments that God gave Israel.  The divisions and strife in our world are because don’t follow God’s truths and wisdom for us as you should hopefully see in the two examples above.  Again, God is not focused on perfect, legalistic compliance.  He is looking for heart attitudes of love for Him and those around us.

God proactively showed His love for us by sending His Son to let us know that He loves us even in our imperfection.  He is showing us how to have unconditional love for family, friends and even our enemies (e.g. parable of the Good Samaritan).  Are we willing to trust His truths or will we remain part of the problems in this world?

The two greatest commandments will help us have a better life here during this blink-of-an-eye 80+/- years on earth.  But, our primary hope is an eternity in Heaven because the only people that will be there will be those that have come to understand that they are better off when they trust God’s truths and wisdom.  That will lead to an eternity full of wholesome relationships — that is Heaven.

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Bible verses:

• Matthew 22:36-40:  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.   On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
• Romans 1:16-32 (summarized):  For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools … [some examples of sin] Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them, but give approval to those who practice them. 
• Matthew 5:21-46 (summarized):  You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. … You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. … You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …
• Luke 10:25-37 (summarized):  A man was beaten, robbed and left half dead.  Two Jewish officials past him by.  But a Samaritan (race the Jews despised) came by, treated him and brought him into town for care which he paid for.  Jesus asked this Jewish audience who was the good neighbor.  They had to admit the Samaritan.
• 1 John 4:18-19  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us.