 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. The entire prayer, Deuteronomy 6, 4 through 9, was given as an instruction by Moses to remind the Israelites of the importance of ordering their lives according to God's law. When a teacher of the law asked Jesus which was the most important of the commandments, he quoted Deuteronomy 6, 4 and 5. Hear, O Israel, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.