Matthew 22:37-38
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 foremost commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38 (NASB)
Let’s look at the context of the verse first and answer a few key questions.
Who wrote it? Matthew
When was it written? Between AD 60 and 65
To whom was it written? Primarily Jews
For what purpose? To prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed and promised eternal King
Loving God with Everything We Have: A Reflection on Matthew 22:37-38
In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus gives us two commandments that He says are the greatest of all:
"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 greatest commandment."
These verses call us to a radical way of living—a life where our love for God and others is at the center of everything we do. But what does it mean to truly love God with all our heart, soul, and mind? And how do we put this into practice in our daily lives?
Loving God with All Your Heart, Soul, and Mind
When Jesus calls us to love God with everything, He’s not asking for a half-hearted or compartmentalized love. This is a love that consumes every part of us—our emotions (heart), our will (soul), and our thoughts (mind). In essence, God wants all of us, not just the parts we’re willing to give.
Deuteronomy 10:12 echoes this command, saying:
"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
Loving God means obeying Him, walking in His ways, and serving Him with full devotion. It’s not about following a set of rules out of obligation but about giving our lives to Him out of love.
1 John 5:1-3 also gives us insight into how we can show our love for God:
"In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world."
Our love for God is expressed in obedience. When we truly love Him, following His commands becomes a joy, not a burden. It’s a sign that our hearts are aligned with His, and we trust that what He asks of us is for our good.
Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
Let's keep reading. Verse 39 says, "The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" If we go to 1 John 4:21 it tells us: "And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
Our love for others is a direct reflection of our love for God. Just as God loves us unconditionally, we are called to love others in the same way—selflessly and sacrificially.
But loving our neighbor as ourselves can sometimes feel challenging. What does it look like in real life?
Showing Kindness and Compassion: We can start by being more aware of the needs of those around us. It could be something as simple as offering a listening ear to a friend in distress, helping a neighbor with groceries, or giving generously to those in need.
Forgiveness and Grace: Loving our neighbor also means extending forgiveness when others hurt us. Just as God forgives us, we are called to forgive others. Holding onto bitterness only harms our hearts, but forgiveness brings freedom and healing.
Serving Others: Serving others is a powerful way to show love. Whether it’s volunteering at a local shelter, mentoring someone in need of guidance, or simply offering to help someone with a task, serving demonstrates that we value others as God values us.
Where Do Your Priorities Lie?
As we reflect on these two great commandments, it’s important to ask ourselves: Are we living them out in our daily lives? Are we loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind? Are we loving our neighbors as ourselves?
Take a moment to evaluate your priorities. Are there areas where your love for God or others has taken a backseat to other pursuits? Maybe it’s time to realign your heart and mind with these two foundational commands.
Let's do this!:
Today, let’s commit to examining our hearts. Ask God to show you where your priorities lie. Are you loving Him fully—obeying His commands with joy and trusting His plans for your life? Are you loving others as yourself—showing kindness, compassion, and grace?
Let’s not be content with surface-level faith. Instead, let’s strive to live out these commandments each day, drawing closer to God and impacting the world around us with His love. When we prioritize loving God and others, everything else falls into place.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for calling us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to live out these commandments daily, showing our love for You through obedience and our love for others through kindness and compassion. Open our eyes to areas where we can grow in these ways and give us the grace to make changes where needed. Amen.
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