Matthew 22:37-39 – 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. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
What This Verse Means
When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus summed up the entire law in two commands: love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself. These aren't separate duties — loving God naturally overflows into loving people.
The comprehensiveness is striking: heart (emotions), soul (will), mind (intellect). God wants all of us, not just a compartment labeled 'spiritual.'
Historical Context
A Pharisee lawyer asked this question to test Jesus. The rabbis had identified 613 commandments in the Torah. Jesus' answer distilled them all into a single principle: love.
How to Apply This Today
Check both directions daily: Is my love for God wholehearted? Is my love for others genuine and practical? These two commands are the measuring stick for everything else.
Related Verses
1 John 4:20
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar."
Romans 13:10
"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
🙏 A Prayer from Matthew 22:37-39
Lord, I want to love You with all my heart, soul, and mind. And help me love my neighbor as myself. Let love be the foundation of everything I do. 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 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 answerWhat Does the Bible Say About Loving Your Neighbor?
Jesus identified 'love your neighbor as yourself' as the second greatest commandment, and the parable of the Good Samaritan defines neighbor as anyone in need.
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 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 22:36-40 — Meaning & Devotional
The Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:37-39 Commentary
In-depth study • Love & Commandments
Luke 10:27 Commentary
In-depth study • Love for God & Neighbor
Matthew 22:37-38 — Meaning & Devotional
Love for God
Deuteronomy 6:5 — Meaning & Devotional
Love for God
What Does 'Love Your Neighbor as Yourself' Mean?
Daily Living
Free printable companion
More Devotionals on Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
More Verse Devotionals on Love
Explore more KJV verse meanings, contexts, and applications.
- Matthew 22:36-40 — The Greatest Commandment
- Matthew 22:37-38 — Love for God
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love for God
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love for God
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Greatest Commandment
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Love
- Luke 6:31 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4 — Love
- John 13:34-35 — Love
- John 13:34 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Love
- Matthew 5:44 — Love
- John 13:34 — Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Love
- Matthew 5:44 — Love
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