Theme: A permanent and permeating pillar of piety

Exegetical Note
This passage begins what amounts to an exposition of the first commandment of the Decalogue and contains in verse 4 the Shema, the fundamental creed of Judaism. The underlying concern here is that this great commandment permeate the whole person (the meaning of "with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might") of every believer, and that it be preserved as a pillar of piety through all coming generations forever.

Call to Wors…