“This is the First and Great Command” is a modern metrical paraphrase of Isaac Watts’ 1707 hymn on Matthew 22:37-40, the Summary of the Law, in which Jesus says,
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (KJV)
Watts’s original lyric, theologically rich yet shaped by the idiom of its time, has been newly paraphrased in modern yet stately diction, preserving its scriptural grounding, structure, and devotional character. In four stanzas, the lyric progresses from 1) command to love God, 2) command to love neighbor, 3) acknowledgment of prophetic witness, and 4) confession of human failing and appeal for the Holy Spirit’s renewing grace.
In this new, moderately easy musical setting, the first, second, and fourth stanzas are sung in unison to emphasize the clarity of the command and the earnest prayer for inspiration, while the third stanza expands into unaccompanied SATB to reflect the witness of Moses and the prophets. Brief interludes for flute and organ provide space for contemplation between stanzas.
“This is the First and Great Command” invites both singers and listeners to meditate on and rededicate themselves to loving God and neighbor.
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To purchase from Sheet Music Plus
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