Matthew 22:37-38 – Meaning & Devotional
"Jesus said unto him, 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."
What This Verse Means
When asked to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus points to total love for God — engaging heart (emotions), soul (spirit), and mind (intellect). This is not compartmentalized religion but whole-person devotion.
Loving God with all your mind sanctifies intellectual pursuit. Loving Him with all your heart validates emotional worship. Loving Him with all your soul integrates the deepest part of your being. Nothing is held back.
Historical Context
A Pharisee asked this question to test Jesus. The rabbis had identified 613 commandments and debated which was greatest. Jesus cuts through the complexity: love God completely. Everything else flows from this.
How to Apply This Today
Examine which area of your life is least surrendered to God — your emotions, your thinking, or your spiritual life. True love for God engages all of you. Worship Him with your whole being, not just part.
Related Verses
Matthew 22:39
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Deuteronomy 6:5
"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Mark 12:30
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength."
🙏 A Prayer from Matthew 22:37-38
Lord, I love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind. Help me hold nothing back from You. You deserve my everything. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Bible Questions
Common questions people ask about this passage — answered with KJV scripture.
What Is the Great Commandment?
The Great Commandment is Jesus' declaration that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Read answerWhat Does the Bible Say About Love?
The Bible teaches that God is love, that He demonstrated love by sending His Son, and that love for God and neighbor is the greatest commandment.
Read answerWhat Is Repentance?
Repentance is a genuine change of mind and heart about sin, turning away from it and toward God.
Read answerWho Was King David?
David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Read answerWhat Does the Bible Say About Envy?
Envy is consistently condemned as destructive to the soul and contrary to the love God calls believers to practice.
Read answerWhat Does 'Love Your Neighbor as Yourself' Mean?
Jesus called this the second greatest commandment — it means treating others with the same care, dignity, and concern we naturally show ourselves.
Read answerDeep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Matthew 22:37-39 — Meaning & Devotional
Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:36-40 — Meaning & Devotional
The Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:37-39 Commentary
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Matthew 22:37 Commentary
In-depth study • Love for God
Deuteronomy 6:5 — Meaning & Devotional
Love for God
Love Bible Quiz
Charity, the greatest commandment, and the love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13.
Free printable companion
More Devotionals on Love for God
Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
More Verse Devotionals on Love for God
Explore more KJV verse meanings, contexts, and applications.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love for God
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love for God
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love for God
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love for God
- Matthew 22:37-39 — Greatest Commandment
- Matthew 22:36-40 — The Greatest Commandment
- Matthew 22:37-39 — Greatest Commandment
- Matthew 22:37-39 — Love
- Matthew 22:37-39 — Love
- Matthew 22:37-39 — Love
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Greatest Commandment
- 1 John 4:7-8 — God Is Love
- 1 John 4:19 — God's Love
- 1 John 4:19 — God's Love
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 — Heaven
- 1 John 4:19 — God's Love
- Matthew 22:37-39 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 — Heaven
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