Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Ramali, and welcome to today's RE lesson.

So today's lesson, we are covering the unit on religious law and what is the social context and relevance today.

So today's lesson is on the two great Commandments which is the second lesson within this unit.

So in today's lesson, we are going to be learning about what the two great Commandments are and considering their relevance for Christians today.

Okay, let's start today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is: I can explain the meaning of the two great Commandments and their relevance for Christians today.

To help us with our learning in today's lesson, we have three key words.

Our key words are: Commandment, neighbour, and parable.

Commandment refers to an important rule given by God that tells people how to behave.

Neighbour: so in the Bible, this refers to anyone in need of help or compassion.

And parable is a story used to illustrate a moral lesson as told by Jesus in the Gospels.

Today's lesson on the two great Commandments takes two parts.

So we will start today's lesson by learning about the two great Commandments and then we move on in the second part of the lesson to consider their relevance for Christians today.

I'd like to start this lesson with you having some discussion.

So here are three questions that either with your partner or in a small group, I would like you to take some time to discuss: what do you think is the most important rule in life? Why do you think it is the most important rule? And lastly, would everybody agree with you? And I'd like you to consider why or why not.

So you might like to consider rules in regards to society as a whole, or you might think about rules specifically, say for example, within your classroom or within your school.

Whatever it is, that's absolutely fine, but I really want you to discuss and reflect and consider why do you think it is the most important rule and whether or not everybody would agree with you and consider why or why not.

Okay.

That's enough of me talking.

So I'm gonna hand this over to you.

I would like you to pause the video here and then press play when you are ready to move on with the lesson.

A fantastic discussions, everybody.

Well done.

Well, the two great Commandments are found in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus was once asked by a Pharisee, an expert in the Jewish law, "What is the greatest Commandment in the law?" Jesus replied with, "The two great Commandments." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which question was Jesus asked by the Pharisee? A, what is the greatest Commandment in the law; B, which of the Ten Commandments is the most important; or C, what Commandment does God care about most? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, well done if you said the correct answer is A, "What is the greatest Commandment in the law?" was the question that Jesus asked by the Pharisee.

In the Book of Matthew, it states: Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment in the law? Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the first and the greatest Commandment." And this is found in the book of Matthew 22:36-38.

Now, how might this first be interpreted by Christians? So with your partner, I would like you to discuss that question.

Pause the video here and then press play when you are ready to reflect on your answer.

Okay, welcome back.

So how might this verse be interpreted by Christians? Well, this verse can be interpreted to mean that the most important thing a Christian can do in life is to love God with everything that they have.

Jesus continued his answer to the question, "What is the greatest Commandment in the law?" by stating: "And the second is, love your neighbour as yourself.

All the law and the prophets hang on these two Commandments." And that is also found in Matthew 22, and that is verse 39 to 40.

How might this verse be interpreted by Christians? So again, with your partner, I would like you to discuss that question.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answer.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So what did you think about how this verse might be interpreted by Christians? Well, it can be interpreted to mean that Christians must treat others as they would like to be treated.

Everything God has taught in the Bible comes down to; loving God with all you have and loving people like you love yourself.

Laura wants to learn more about the meaning of the two great Commandments.

So she speaks to Fiona, who is a Christian.

"Are these two Commandments more important to Christians than the Ten Commandments, Fiona?" Fiona replies, "Jesus didn't dismiss the Ten Commandments, instead he summed them up.

If you love God and love others, you'll want to follow all of the Commandments." So the two great Commandments sum up the Ten Commandments.

So, "Love the Lord, your God," sums up the Commandments: you shall have no other gods before me, do not make or worship idols, do not disrespect or misuse God's name, and remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

And the second of the great Commandments, "Love your neighbour as your self," sums up the Commandments: honour your mother and father, do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not tell lies, and do not be envious of others.

So you can see that Jesus did not dismiss the Ten Commandments, but the two great Commandments sum up the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses by God.

True or false? For Christians, the two great Commandments are more important than the Ten Commandments.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Jesus didn't dismiss the Ten Commandments, instead he summed them up.

If you love God and love others, you will want to follow all the Commandments.

Okay, now it's time to pause and complete our first practise task.

Show your understanding of the two great Commandments by completing the following sentences: The two great Commandments are found in the, which is in the, of.

The, asked Jesus the question.

Jesus said, the two greatest Commandments, are, and.

And lastly, the two great Commandments are a summary of the.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video here and then press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Okay, time to check your answers.

So your answers may look like this.

The two great Commandments are found in the New Testament, which is in the gospel of Matthew.

The Pharisee asked Jesus the question, "What is the greatest Commandment in the law?" Jesus said, "The two greatest Commandments are love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself." And lastly, the two great Commandments are a summary of the Ten Commandments.

Well done on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on to the second part of our lesson on the two great Commandments.

And in this part of the lesson, we're gonna consider the relevance of the two great Commandments for Christians today.

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to help people understand what it means to "Love your neighbour." In it, he tells a story of a man who was attacked and a person, who may have been seen as an enemy by society at the time, showed him love and compassion.

How might Christians be influenced by Jesus' Commandment, "Love your neighbour"? So let's consider the parable of the Good Samaritan and how Christians might be influenced by the parable that Jesus taught.

So some Christians might speak out against injustice, they might show kindness to everyone, help those who are in need, and show forgiveness.

These are four different ways that a Christian might be influenced by Jesus' Commandment to "Love your neighbour." Okay, time to complete a check for understanding.

Select two ways that the Good Samaritan parable might influence Christians today.

A, to speak out against injustice; B, help those who are in need; C, help only their next-door neighbours.

So remember, for this check for understanding, you need to select two different ways.

Okay, pause the video here and then press play when you are ready to reflect on your answers.

Welcome back everybody.

So well done if you selected A and C, two ways that the Good Samaritan parable might influence Christians today are to speak out against injustice and to help those who are in need.

Well done.

So now we're gonna look at some examples of Christians who put the great Commandment to love your neighbour into practise.

Now here we have the example of Marcus Rashford.

Marcus Rashford has a Christian worldview.

Marcus is a popular football player.

He played for England during the Men's Football World Cup tournament in 2022.

Growing up, Marcus often relied on free school meals, and this experience taught him how tough life can be when you don't have enough money or food.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Marcus Rashford put Jesus' great Commandment to "Love your neighbour" into action.

How did he do that? Well, Marcus led a campaign to ensure children eligible for free school meals didn't go hungry when schools were closed.

He successfully lobbied the UK government to extend the free school meals programme and raise awareness by partnering with charities to provide meals to vulnerable families.

True or false? Marcus Rashford is influenced by the great Commandment "Love your neighbour." Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, let's see if you got that answer correct.

So well done if you said the correct answer is true.

Marcus Rashford led a campaign to ensure children eligible for free school meals didn't go hungry when schools were closed during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Rachel Lampard has a Christian worldview and she also lives in the UK.

She puts Jesus' Commandment to "Love your neighbour" into action.

Rachel works to make the world fairer and more caring, especially for people who are treated unfairly.

She's a leader in the Methodist Church and helps speak out about important issues like poverty, gambling problems, and justice.

Rachel Lampard led the Walking with Micah initiative.

Rachel began this initiative in 2021 to help the church find a stronger, clearer voice on social justice issues by listening to the stories and experiences of ordinary people.

Rachel wanted to help the church learn how to stand with people who are often ignored and to speak up for justice in their communities.

This is an example of her work rooted in the great Commandment to "Love your neighbour." Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select two ways that Rachel Lampard demonstrates the great Commandment, "Love your neighbour." A, speaks on behalf of those who are often ignored; B, provides free school meals for families; or C, listens to the stories and experiences of ordinary people.

Remember for this check for understanding, you need to select two answers.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody and well done if you said the correct answers are A and C.

Two ways that Rachel Lampard demonstrates the great Commandment to "Love your neighbour" is she speaks on behalf of those who are often ignored and listens to the stories and experiences of ordinary people.

So that brings us on to our second and final practise task.

So here you're gonna demonstrate your understanding of the two great Commandments and their relevance for Christians today.

You are going to explain how two Christians living in the UK are influenced by the great Commandment "Love your neighbour" in their lives today.

First of all, you're going to write one paragraph explaining the work of Marcus Rashford.

You are then gonna write a second paragraph explaining the work of Rachel Lampard.

And lastly, for each paragraph, explain how they have been influenced by the Commandments.

Good luck completing this practise task.

Pause the video here and then press play when you are ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So your answers may look like this.

"During the COVID-19 lockdown, Marcus Rashford lived out Jesus' Commandment to 'Love your neighbour' by leading a campaign to support children who relied on free school meals.

He successfully persuaded the UK government to continue the free school meals programme and work with charities to help provide food for vulnerable families, raising awareness and making a real difference in people's lives." "Rachel Lampard is a Christian who lives in the UK and follows Jesus' Commandment to 'Love your neighbour.

' She works to make the world fairer, especially for people who are treated unfairly.

As a leader in the Methodist Church, she speaks out about issues like poverty, gambling, and justice.

In 2021, she started the Walking with Micah Project to help the church listen to people's stories and stand up for justice." Fantastic, well done on completing your second and final practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on the two great Commandments, and here is a summary of our key learning points.

The two great Commandments are found in the New Testament in the Gospel of Matthew.

The two great Commandments can be summarised as, "Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbour as yourself." The two great Commandments also sum up the Ten Commandments.

Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan to help people understand what it means to "Love your neighbour." And lastly, Marcus Rashford and Rachel Lampard are both Christians who live in the UK and have demonstrated the Commandment "Love your neighbour" by helping people in need.

Well done on all of your hard work in today's RE lesson.

And thank you very much for joining me.

Goodbye.