Matthew 22:38

"Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’"

Key Reflection

In Matthew 22:38, Jesus cites a commandment that encapsulates the essence of loving God wholeheartedly. This instruction draws from Deuteronomy 6:5, reflecting a deep, unreserved commitment to the Lord—one that encompasses the totality of one's being, including their heart (the seat of emotions and will), soul (representing life itself), and mind (indicating the intellect). This love is not merely emotional or intellectual but an all-encompassing devotion meant to guide every aspect of a believer’s life.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 38. This is the first and great commandment. This commandment is found in De 6:5. It is the first and greatest of all; first, not in order of time, but of importance; greatest in dignity, in excellence, in extent, and duration. It is the fountain of all others. All beings are to be loved according to their excellence. As God is the most excellent and glorious of all beings, he is to be loved supremely. If He is loved aright, then our affections will be directed towards all created objects in a right manner. __________________________________________________________________

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